| Popis: |
This paper looks at the problem of the short-term response by democratic institutions to global issues. I view this short-term response as a result of the shaping of our contemporary society, used by states to address pressing issues such as those described in the Sustainable Development Goals. The result so far has been a worsening of these global issues, which instead require a future-focused perspective. The latter is an approach to the problems of modern society that young people are loudly calling for, and that some states have begun to incorporate into their institutional apparatus, but without being able to overcome the short-term focus of today's political decisions.The paper develops as a philosophical discourse among various authors who have addressed the theme of social justice, particularly in relation to future generations. It is evident that theories of contractualism and utilitarianism fail to ensure intergenerational justice. I then present sustainability ethics and intergenerational ethics, the two main contemporary ethical theories that consider the question of future generations, as fundamental elements in including future generations in our democratic institutions, thus ensuring greater social justice.In accordance with Michael Kates’ “Non-reformist reforms” model, future-focused institutions emerge as potentially functional in taking future generations into account and promoting the application of sustainability ethics and intergenerational ethics in the democratic system. Examples of countries that have future-focused institutions as part of their institutional apparatus and “The Network of Institutions for Future Generations” highlight, however, the lack of veto power as a key factor in states' inability to overcome the short-term perspective of political decisions.Kates lists four possible theoretical models of future-focused institutions with veto power that states can implement. These models are not concrete but open up the possibility for future assessments and considerations. Furthermore, these models demonstrate how the inclusion of future-focused institutions within the democratic state apparatus is essential in order to represent the rights of future generations, thus ensuring social justice. |
