Can The Law Fix Structural Injustice?

Can The Law Fix Structural Injustice?

Author: UCL Political Science June 5, 2025 Duration: 35:12

When we see injustice in the world, our instinct is often to look for someone to blame. We might point to a corrupt official, an unjust law, or individuals acting with harmful intent. But some of the most persistent and damaging injustices of our time, including climate change, homelessness, systemic racism and gender inequality, do not have a single perpetrator. These are what philosopher Iris Marion Young described as structural injustices. They are not caused by individual malice, but by the ordinary functioning of our social, political and economic systems.

At first glance, this kind of injustice might seem beyond the reach of the law. There is no obvious villain to prosecute and no specific rule to repeal. But what if we have misunderstood what the law is capable of? What if legal systems are not just passive frameworks but active players in how injustice takes shape?

In this episode, we speak with George Letsas, Professor of the Philosophy of Law at University College London. He presents a powerful and original argument. The law, he suggests, is often implicated in structural injustice. But it is also one of the most promising tools we have to address it.

Mentioned in this episode:


Ever wonder what happens when sharp academic minds turn their focus to the headlines? UCL Uncovering Politics pulls back the curtain on the forces shaping our world, straight from the heart of one of the world's leading universities. This isn't a lecture series, but a series of conversations where complex ideas about power, culture, and society are made accessible and urgent. You'll hear researchers from UCL's Department of Political Science and School of Public Policy dissect everything from voting behaviour and international conflict to the philosophy underlying our social structures, connecting rigorous scholarship directly to current events. Each episode feels like sitting in on a fascinating discussion between experts who are as curious about the "why" behind political phenomena as they are knowledgeable. The podcast serves as a direct line to cutting-edge analysis, offering depth and context that goes far beyond the daily news cycle. By spotlighting the fantastic work done within the department, it provides listeners with a richer, more nuanced understanding of the mechanics behind culture, government, and the news we consume. Tune in for a thoughtful and genuinely enlightening exploration of contemporary politics, grounded in research but always engaged with the real world.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 161

UCL Uncovering Politics
Podcast Episodes
The State of the European Union [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:33
Brexit is back in the news, at least here in the UK. A huge amount is said in the UK media about UK perspectives on how the talks are going and what the key issues are but we hear much less about thinking within the EU.D…
The Principles of Collective Decision-Making [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:30
Politics is the process by which we make collective choices – by which we decide how generous the welfare state will be, what kind of education system we will operate, what crimes will be punishable with what penalties,…
Decolonising the University [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:34
When we look back at the extraordinary year of 2020, one of the major themes – alongside, of course, Covid-19 – will be Black Lives Matter. Large-scale protests began in Minneapolis in late May following the killing of G…
Survivors of Violence [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:23
Civil war has ravaged all too many societies in recent decades. And civil wars leave deep scars long after the fighting is over. Our colleague Dr Kate Cronin-Furman, who is Lecturer in Human Rights and Director of the MA…
Voter Information [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:09
Many of us are very concerned about the quality of information that’s available to voters during election and referendum campaigns. Misinformation and manipulation appear to be rampant, and voters can struggle to find th…
The US Elections: What's Next? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:57
What does the election tell us about the state of US democracy, and what does the future hold? And what are the next four years likely to bring in policy terms – on the domestic front, in foreign policy, and on action ag…
Views of the Economy [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:16
We talk endlessly about the economy in politics. The state of the economy is said to shape election results, with incumbents doing well if it's up, and badly if its down, but what is the economy? Do we all agree on what…
Monarchy in Modern Democracy [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:37
Serious books on monarchy are rare, but a new volume on Europe’s eight contemporary democracies helps to fill the gap. Does monarchy still deserve the attention of students of politics? And is the fact that most of the w…
Is Risk Good for Us? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:00
Amidst pandemic and economic recession, living with risk – the possibility that something bad may happen to you – is part of many people’s daily reality. Some political philosophers suggest that risk is good for us – tha…
Checks and Balances in Democracy [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:47
The long-standing idea that democracy needs checks and balances is questioned in some quarters. So what is the case for checks and balances, and what are the arguments against? Should we look upon different kinds of chec…