A Project on the Dynamics of (In)justice, Conflict, Stability and Reform.
A Project on the Dynamics of (In)justice, Conflict, Stability and Reform. Prior research on social justice has identified important differences between distributive, procedural, retributive and reparative types of (in)justice as primary motivators of conflict and peace. Of particular interest has been the theory of relative deprivation (Merton, 1960), or the gap experienced between what groups deserve and what they can achieve – when referencing some comparison group. However, most conceptualizations and empirical studies of these motives have been short-term, piecemeal and static. This research attempts to understand the interactive and temporal dynamics of justice motives of patterns of conflict and peace. Specifically, we are interested in the basic properties of constructive vs. destructive dynamics of injustice, conflict and reform. To develop a minimalist model of these dynamics for research, practice and policymaking.
