Children are among those most affected by global injustice – from poverty and malnutrition to exploitation and lack of education. Yet, in most debates on global justice, they remain almost invisible. In his new book “Global Justice for Children: A Capability Approach” (Routledge 2025), Gottfried Schweiger from the Centre for Ethics and Poverty Research at the University of Salzburg argues that this must change.

The book develops a theory of global justice that takes children seriously as moral agents – not merely as vulnerable recipients of care, but as individuals with their own claims to a good life. Drawing on the capability approach, Schweiger focuses on what children actually need to develop and flourish – on their real opportunities, not just formal rights. He argues that every child, regardless of where they are born, has a moral right to the conditions required for a “sufficiently good life”. This includes health, care, education, respect, identity, and participation. Schweiger shows how these capabilities can be defined in a way that respects both universal values and cultural diversity.

A key idea of the book is the principle of sufficiency: the goal is not perfect equality, but ensuring that no child falls below a basic threshold of well-being and opportunity. Schweiger’s multi-level model of thresholds connects the urgent need for immediate improvements with the broader vision of long-term global justice. Equally important is the question of responsibility. Schweiger develops a theory of differentiated responsibility, showing that justice for children depends on the coordinated actions of many actors – from parents and communities to states, corporations, and international institutions.

In its final chapters, the book turns to the challenges of the 21st century: digitalization, climate change, and growing inequality. Schweiger calls for a justice framework that not only protects children but includes their voices in shaping a fairer global future. Global Justice for Children is a thought-provoking and timely contribution that brings children to the center of global ethics and political philosophy.

 Link to the book “Global Justice for Children: A Capability Approach”