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Social justice discourses become contaminated if some are made mouth-dead. Without a diversity of views justice is not served optimally, writes Nico Koopman
On 20 February every year we celebrate World Social Justice Day. This gives us the opportunity to reflect afresh upon the global concern related to social injustice all over the world.
There are various forms of resistance to social justice initiatives. One resistance is that the term is vague. What do you really talk about when you speak about social justice?
We, therefore, need to talk in a nuanced and analytical way about social justice.
One way of talking about social justice is to simply describe it as justice that reigns supreme in every sphere of society.
Social justice is the justice of and for society - human society and natural society.
Social justice is constituted by a variety of forms of justice.
Re-distributive justice is justice that distributes the essential necessities and goods of life fairly to all, especially to the most vulnerable in society.
We need the will and wisdom to ensure fair distribution to all.
Restorative justice is justice that seeks the healing of what had been broken ? relationships, trust, truth, dignity, freedom, equality, humaneness and life.
Restitutive justice (re-again + statuere-establish) is justice that establishes again the original status, seeks reparation of what had been broken, heals wounds, seeks appropriate compensation, and rights wrongs.
Rehabilitative justice is justice that is therapeutic, healing, and educative; it restores privileges and reputation; it takes away stigma and rejection.
Retributive and punishing justice does not seek vengeance and destruction, but it seeks regret, remorse, repentance, reparation, rehabilitation, restoration, restitution, reconciliation and healing.
Reconciling justice does not alienate, but embraces.
Re-distributive, restorative, reparative, restitutive, rehabilitative, reconciling and in some sense retributive justice, are forms of social justice, justice for all in all of life’s relationships and spheres.
Social justice encompasses all relationships in which we live in human and natural society. It can therefore be described as justice that opposes racism, classism, sexism, homophobia, ableism, ageism and ecocide.
Social justice defines Constitutional principles like dignity, healing, freedom and equality. Where there is no justice, there is no dignity, no healing of wounds, no freedom, and no equality.
On the analytical level one can also distinguish between justice as vision, justice as value, justice as virtue and justice as obligation.
Justice is an expression of the vision that we have for society.
It is a value that we adhere to, something that weighs heavily on us. Justice is a virtue that we embody and live out, a predisposition, tendency, inclination, intuition and excellence. Justice as virtue means that we do not only talk about justice as something outside us, but that we ask whether we are people who embody justice, people of justice, or just people.
Justice as obligation refers to the duty to seek justice through the decisions and policies that we formulate. We draw upon various decision-making and policy-making theories and models to advance justice.
A second point of resistance to social justice has to do with the manner in which it is practiced.
Justice discourse is sometimes accused of being exclusivist.
Some groups of society are excluded from participation in social justice discourses. Mere membership of some groups disqualify you as potential contributor to social justice dialogues and initiatives.
Social justice discourses become contaminated if some are made mouth-dead. Without a diversity of views justice is not served optimally.
The emotions with regard to justice is also a point of resistance to social justice. For some, justice means liberation and it is therefore a source of joy.
For others it constitutes a threat and is therefore a source of fear and anxiety. In our quests for justice, there should be a sensitivity for the emotions of justice. Where this sensitivity is lacking, justice quests might be frustrated, and it can also lead to alienation. True justice is in the end embracing justice that unites people and that does not nurture enmity.
One more point of resistance to social justice is the non-fulfillment thereof, which causes scepticism and even despair about the prospects of justice. It is, therefore, crucial that we seek the fulfillment and enactment of justice in a concrete manner and on every square inch of the universe.
In local and global contexts, we advance justice where we adhere to a rational and analytical approach to it; where we seek it in a just manner and inclusive manner; where we advance it with sensitivity; and where we ensure that it does not only look good on paper, but also on the playing-field.
- Professor Nico Koopman is Vice-Rector for Social Impact, Transformation and Personnel at Stellenbosch University.
