Social justice: a conservative perspective

Abstract

Although political conservatives outnumber moderates and liberals in the American populace, the conservative political ideology is largely absent from academic, practice and policy discourse within the social work and social welfare communities. This article describes a conservative perspective on the topic of social justice and illustrates how this view actually promotes a more socially just practice than a liberal orientation to practice and policy. Specific attention is given to the conservative perspective on the provision of social welfare programs, the use of the income tax as a means to redistribute wealth, on affirmative action, on the death penalty, and on abortion rights.