WHAT IS SOCIAL JUSTICE? AN EXCHANGE OF VIEWS

WHAT IS SOCIAL JUSTICE? AN EXCHANGE OF VIEWS

James R. Fisher, Jr., Ph.D.
© June 12, 2008

GERMAN FRIEND WRITES:

Being a lawyer by education, I must admit the big problem of social justice is the perception of the people involved depending on their geographical position, social status, cultural background etc.

What seems right for some may seem wrong for others. The issue will be that parts of this world with enormously growing populations generally are poor compared to the industrial countries. If we cannot balance this disparity, we will have to face aggressiveness and violence - even if we regard it as injustice!

Manfred Fiedler
Meisenweg 9 Germany

MY RESPONSE

Manfred,

What you say is true.

My thrust is that the mechanism to change the tide from exploitation and subjugation to social justice and freedom must be in place. It takes time and will from outside and inside the process.

For example, I see a combination of terminal (money, materials, food, medicine, etc.) interventions, which represent a COMMITMENT to deal in a most limited way with the problem, and instrumental (taking action in terms of education, infrastructure building, etc.) interventions, which represent an INVOLVEMENT in the process.

The combination of terminal/instrumental intervention is meant to establish the CLIMATE for social justice. It is not the engine of social change. The people must provide that. Do gooding has its limitations.

As you point out, this becomes complicated when the people are not ready for social change.

Then, I say, the terminal/instrumental intervention must be protracted to accommodate the lack of maturity of the people to assume ownership of the social change process. This, too, has a limited window of opportunity.

In the end, the intended benefactors to social change must want (seek it) and then seize (display the courage, sacrifice and will) the opportunity for social justice to take hold.

Ultimately, self-interest (internally & externally) must be subdued and subsumed to a higher cause. That is my take on the problem.

How is Germany dealing with social justice challenge of rising oil prices? We see truckers across Europe are not too happy.

Jim