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Table 2 Caney’s four points about the importance of the state within a cosmopolitan ethical frame

From: Cosmopolitanism and foreign policy for health: ethics for and beyond the state

Importance of the state

Role

Instrumental Contributions

• They can pursue cosmopolitan policies (e.g. debt relief)

• They can construct cosmopolitan institutions (e.g. World Health Organization)

Upholding Rights

• Institutional arrangements to uphold persons rights within and outside of state borders

Engendering Justice

• A national identity can rally support for state policies that uphold cosmopolitan ethics

Locus of Compensation

• Provide compensation for global injustice (e.g. compensation for state enacted injustices such as colonization – Britain may provide compensation to Indian citizens for injustices enacted during colonial rule)