Why equality matters

Equality is a powerful moral and political ideal. It holds that all human beings have equal worth, whatever their colour, gender, race or nationality, and deserve equal consideration and respect because of their common humanity. This idea lies behind universal human rights and the notion of 'crimes against humanity'.

• In the modern period, equality has been a rallying cry against states and institutions that uphold inequalities of rank, wealth, status or privilege.
• In the 18th century, French revolutionaries used the slogan 'Liberty, Equality and Fraternity' against the feudal aristocracy and the monarchy.
• It was raised in the anti-colonial struggles of Asia and Africa in the 20th century, and is still raised by groups who feel marginalised, such as women and dalits.
• Today it is written into the constitutions and laws of many countries.

Yet inequality is everywhere. In India, slums stand beside luxury housing; some schools have air-conditioned classrooms while others lack drinking water or toilets; food is wasted while people go hungry.

• Globally (UNDP Human Development Report, 2005): the richest 10 per cent of the world's people control 54 per cent of global income, while the poorest 40 per cent receive only 5 per cent; the richest 50 individuals together earn more than the poorest 40 crore people. The advanced industrial countries, with a quarter of the world's population, own most of its industry and use most of its energy.
• Within India (Census 2011), there are wide rural-urban gaps: for example, about 55 per cent of rural families had an electricity connection against 93 per cent of urban families, and about 35 per cent of rural families had tap water at home against 71 per cent in cities. (These figures are for understanding, not memorising.)

The paradox of equality: almost everyone accepts the ideal, yet almost everywhere we find inequality. Are these inequalities natural results of differences in talent and effort, or the result of our social position and rules? What kind of equality should we pursue, and for whom? Should we always treat everyone the same way? These questions make equality a central theme of political theory.

Example (new): two students in the same city may both be 'equal citizens', yet one studies in a well-lit room with internet and the other shares one bulb with five family members: the law treats them equally, but life does not.