Social justice and the justification of social inequalities

Abstract

In this chapter, we introduce key research on social justice from an interdisciplinary social scientific perspective, focusing on questions of what (distributive justice), how (procedural justice) and who (recognition and scope). After discussing seminal theories on distributive justice (i.e., equity theory and relative deprivation), we introduce the distinction between three justice principles (equity, equality, need). We then consider central studies of procedural justice on fair process and due consideration effects. Subsequently, justice as recognition and the scope of justice are discussed as important additional forms of justice. We then shift focus towards two theories that help explain why people sometimes justify injustice: just-world theory and system justification theory, showing how striving for justice and the existence of injustice can be reconciled and at what cost.