What Does Mills Mean by the "Domination Contract" How Does

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The Answer is In his book "The Racial Contract," Charles Mills introduces the concept of the "domination contract" to describe the social contract that underpins the political and moral philosophy of modern Western societies. Mills argues that the social contract, as traditionally conceived by political philosophers like John Rawls, is based on the implicit agreement of free and equal individuals to form a just and fair society. However, Mills contends that this contract is actually a "domination contract" because it is built on the subjugation and exclusion of non-white, non-male, and non-Western individuals.

Mills' critique of Rawls is rooted in the idea that Rawls' theory of justice, which emphasizes fairness and equality, fails to account for the historical and ongoing realities of racial and colonial domination. By focusing on the idealized principles of justice and fairness, Rawls overlooks the ways in which racial and colonial hierarchies have shaped and continue to shape society. Mills argues that the "domination contract" is the unspoken agreement that allows for the perpetuation of these hierarchies, and that Rawls' theory of justice is complicit in upholding this unjust social order.

In essence, Mills' critique of Rawls is that his theory of justice is based on a flawed understanding of the social contract, as it fails to acknowledge and address the systemic domination and oppression that exist within modern societies. By introducing the concept of the "domination contract," Mills challenges the traditional social contract theory and calls for a more comprehensive and inclusive understanding of justice that takes into account the experiences and perspectives of marginalized and oppressed groups.

What Does Mills Mean by the "Domination Contract" How Does

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