John Rawls was one of the most influential philosophers of the 20th century. He argued that the use of the State to protect the rights of the poor was a good thing.
But he also said that the State should not impose its own rules on the rest of the world. He said that if the State were to impose its rules on everyone, the world would not be as free as it could be, and would be more repressive and cruel to the rich and poor. He was referring to the U.S. government's policy of compulsory education for all.