Open AccessConflict Resolution and Distributive Justice: Reflections on the Burton-Laue Debate
Author(s) -
Richard E. Rubenstein,
Frank Blechman
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
peace and conflict studies
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.116
H-Index - 6
ISSN - 1082-7307
DOI - 10.46743/1082-7307/1999.1198
Subject(s) - conflict resolution , politics , social conflict , political science , racism , economic justice , order (exchange) , resolution (logic) , distributive justice , field (mathematics) , criminology , structural violence , law and economics , social psychology , sociology , law , psychology , computer science , mathematics , pure mathematics , finance , artificial intelligence , economics
From its inception, the field of conflict resolution has appealed strongly to practitioners, researchers, and theorists interested in social betterment. Most conflict resolvers would probably agree that their efforts are motivated, at least in part, by the conception of a Good (or at least a Better) Society considerably less violent and contentious, more peaceful and cooperative, than the existing social order. Many would also affirm that in order to reach this goal, the sources of violence and contention, which include cultural norms sanctioning or glorifying violence, invidious and discriminatory "isms" (racism, sexism, etc.), gross socioeconomic and political inequities, and over-reliance on formal, adversarial decision-making procedures need to be eliminated or, at least, mitigated. And many would assert, in addition, that the methods of making these changes should be consistent, so far as possible, with the aims sought to be achieved: that is, they should rely on nonviolent conflict resolution.2