Equality — Important Questions

Political Equality

Political equality means all citizens, regardless of religion, caste, wealth, sex, or language, have equal access to political power — including the right to vote (franchise), contest elections, and hold public offices. Universal adult franchise in India is the best example. Natural equality is an ideal about human nature. Economic equality deals with wealth distribution. Material equality is about equal outcomes.

International Equality

International equality means all nations of the world are treated equally regardless of their size, military strength, or economic power. The fact that every member-state of the United Nations has one vote in the General Assembly — whether the USA or a small island nation — is the clearest example of international equality. The other options refer to equality within a country among its citizens.

Material or Distributive Equality

Material or Distributive Equality, also called 'equality of outcomes', means that all citizens get an equal share of resources and outcomes regardless of their starting point, effort, or merit. It is compared to all runners finishing a race at the same time regardless of their speed. This goes beyond equality of opportunity. Legal equality is about equal treatment under law. Political equality is about equal political rights. Natural equality is about equality in nature.

That equality means realising one's best self while enabling others to do the same

Laski emphasized that true equality means 'my realisation of my best self must involve as its logical result the realisation by others of their best selves.' It is about balancing the share in the toil of living with a share in its gains. Laski did not limit equality to just wealth or legal rights. He saw it as a holistic social concept connected to the full development of human personality.