Principles of Justice and Fairness It's common sense that justice is central to any well-functioning society. However, the question of what justice is and how to achieve it are more difficult matters. This essay begins to explore the conundrum.
Types of Justice Different spheres of society approach justice differently. This essay breaks justice down into four types: distributive, procedural, retributive, and restorative and explains the meaning of each.
Restorative Justice Restorative justice is justice that is not designed to punish the wrong-doer, but rather to restore the victim and the relationship to the way they were before the offense. Thus, restorative justice requires an apology from the offender, restitution for the victim, and forgiveness of the offender by the victim.
Retributive Justice Retributive justice promises punishment or "retribution" for wrongdoing.
Procedural Justice Procedural justice describes approaches that define justice not by a fair outcome but by a fair process.
Distributive Justice When people believe that their situation is not equal to that of other people like them, they feel a sense of injustice. Distributive justice is the attempt to create a fair and equal division of society's wealth and status.
The pacifist's task today is to find a method of helping and healing which provides a revolutionary constructive substitute for war. -- Vera Brittain, 1964
Featured Links Organizations Making Noteworthy Contributions to Efforts to Promote More Constructive Conflict Women, Peace and Security Portal
Other Resources from Beyond Intractability Peace-Building: A Field Guide The authors of this edited volume describe how fieldworkers 'fit' in the overall peacebuilding process and provide details of the most effective practices.
Nobel Peace Prize Winners
Georges Pire Former leader of the relief organization for refugees "l'Europe du Coeur au Service du Monde," and 1958 Nobel Peace Laureate
The Beyond Intractability Knowledge Base Project Guy Burgess and Heidi Burgess, Co-Directors and Editors c/o Conflict Information Consortium(Formerly Conflict Research Consortium), University of Colorado Campus Box 580, Boulder, CO 80309 Phone: (303) 492-1635; Fax: (303) 492-2154; Contact