The Politics of Compassion explores the manifold obstacles that hinder our individual and collective capacity to care for the vulnerable, offering insights from history, religion, ethics, cognitive and social sciences, international relations, public policy, and contemporary politics. It examines both how far weve come in addressing poverty and social injustice and how far we still have to go. It concludes by discussing strategies to help us achieve a more consistent practice of compassion in public life.

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 HellerSchool 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.

Preface

Chapter 1: Why Compassion in Politics?

Chapter 2: Historical Perspectives on Social Welfare and Global Development

Chapter 3: Historical Perspectives on Human Rights

Chapter 4: Compassion in Religious and Secular Thought

Chapter 5: Justice and Moral Responsibility

Chapter 6: Altruism, Empathy, and the Making of Us and Them

Chapter 7: The Moral Politics of Liberals and Conservatives

Chapter 8: Politics against Compassion

Chapter 9: Compassion in Public Policy and Law

Chapter 10: Creating a More Compassionate and Just Society

Index