Judging Social Rights

Jeff King is a senior lecturer at the Faculty of Laws, University College London, where he teaches public law, human rights and legal theory.

• 1. Aims and methods; Part I. The Case for Constitutional Social Rights: 2. The case for social rights; 3. The value of courts in light of the alternatives; 4. A basic interpretive approach; Part II. A Theory of Judicial Restraint: 5. Institutional approaches to judicial restraint; 6. Democratic legitimacy; 7. Polycentricity; 8. Expertise; 9. Flexibility; Part III. Incrementalism: 10. Incrementalism as a general theme.

'… [a] stimulating and comprehensive [addition] to the burgeoning case for enforceable economic and social rights, specifically health care, housing, social security and education (social rights) … The book sets out a relentlessly coherent and impressive argument as to why incorporating social rights should be seen as an incremental step in the right direction.' Jamie Burton, Public Law