Transitions and Social Justice

This research group explores how we can understand different and intersecting dynamics of political, economic, ecological and post-conflict transitions with the focus on the demands of social justice that such transformations often do not meet.

We provide a connecting platform for critical and interdisciplinary engagement with transitions, transformations and social justice activism. Through discussion of participants’ research and collaborative projects, the group aims to work out analytical tools for scrutinising various aspects of transitions and their discontents – including the processes of transitional justice, economic privatisation, social atomization, globalisation, nationalisation, etc.

Scope of the group

The scope of this group includes both the conceptions and concepts of social justice (Moroni, 2020). We consider, question, interrelate and develop particular conceptions of social justice (by studying the characteristics based on which distinctions are made between individuals and groups that can be considered unjust) while also reflecting on the underlying concepts of social justice (i.e., different justifications of arbitrary distinctions).

The group is committed to supporting comparative case studies of social justice struggles in the Global North, Global South and Global East. Given the current overuse and possible deflation of the concepts of ‘transitions’ and ‘social justice’, in policy-making as well as activism, we aim to conduct theoretical discussions on the usefulness and potential reframing of these concepts, by employing epistemologically oriented and empirically based critiques.

Collaborations

We facilitate collaborative interfaculty research projects that identify, categorise and connect theoretical and empirical work on social justice and just transitions across different disciplines including cultural studies, anthropology, political science, human geography, memory studies, feminist studies, and environmental studies.

The group works closely with and brings together practitioners in the fields of policy-making, civic education, media archives and museums. We also build on the already existing collaborations of its members including within the RG ‘Theories from the Global South and East’ of the Netherlands Research School for Literary Studies and organisation of conferences and workshops.

Position within the Rudolf Agricola school

The group aims to enhance visibility of the interdisciplinary conversations between social sciences and humanities particularly in relation to questions of social belonging, cohesion and decolonisation and how these connect to problems of environmental transitions and climate justice.

The group’s activities connect to and complement the work of the Democracy and Governance Initiative by examining how principles of liberal democracy and rule of law intersect with the demands for social justice, equity and just transitions. We analyse how activist and artivist collectives and broader social movements articulate demands for justice and just transitions across different times and geographies, and how philosophy, literature and art articulate new forms for thinking interconnections of democracy and justice.

Initiatives

Research

Regular seminars around ongoing research by group members and public lectures by external researchers.

Outreach

Yearly public lecture and discussion on one of the central themes of the research group (see).

Events

WUP Seminar Series - Events (google.com)

Group Members