Global Remedial Contract Theory as a Framework for Miller’s Remedial Responsibility for Global Poverty Alleviation

Abstract

Poverty, a multidimensional deprivation in well-being, remains a pervasive global issue affecting both developed and developing nations. David Miller’s work on National Responsibility and Global Justice introduces the theory of remedial responsibility, emphasizing our duty to relieve suffering when capable. Central to Miller’s approach is the connection theory, which identifies six equally weighted factors linking nations to those in need. This study interrogates Miller’s framework and submits that capacity- a nation’s ability to act- plays a determinative role in the consideration of remedial responsibility. The research argues that Global Remedial Contract Theory (GRCT) addresses inherent shortcomings in Miller’s framework. The theory merges global justice theory and social contract theory to develop a broader social contract defined by capacity, consent, reciprocity, and obligation. The study proposes a robust and holistic conceptual framework for addressing global poverty, particularly in the global South, grounded in normative philosophical reasoning and the synthesis of major traditions in political thought. Rather than providing empirical analysis, this paper offers a theoretical model that enriches discourse in global justice and informs policy imagination. It further lays the groundwork for future interdisciplinary studies on institutional responsibility and ethical redistribution.