Politics of Compassion

Edward U. Murphy is a Lecturer in the Department of Global Studies and International Affairs, College of Professional Studies, Northeastern University, Boston. His teaching, research, and writing focus on issues of poverty, social justice, global development, public policy, and international relations. He has also conducted program evaluations and policy analysis for several community-based organizations. Early in his career, he worked in southern Africa for UNICEF. He received a doctorate in Social Policy from the Heller School at Brandeis University. His broad-ranging academic background and diverse intellectual interests give him a decidedly global, interdisciplinary perspective on social justice, public policy, and politics.

• PrefaceChapter 1: Why Compassion in Politics?Chapter 2: Historical Perspectives on Social Welfare and Global DevelopmentChapter 3: Historical Perspectives on Human RightsChapter 4: Compassion in Religious and Secular ThoughtChapter 5: Justice and Moral ResponsibilityChapter 6: Altruism, Empathy, and the Making of “Us” and “Them”Chapter 7: The Moral Politics of Liberals and ConservativesChapter 8: Politics against CompassionChapter 9: Compassion in Public Policy and LawChapter 10: Creating a More Compassionate and Just SocietyIndex

This timely volume about compassion in politics is informed by a wide range of disciplines and perspectives. Students seeking to understand the history and development of policies for the economically disadvantaged and the stranger in our midst will find Edward Murphy's well-documented analysis relevant and compelling.