Peace versus Justice: Creating Rights as well as Order out of Chaos

Abstract

While ‘peace’ and ‘justice’ advocates share ultimate goals, the short-term concerns and strategies of practitioners in the two fields may differ dramatically. The potential contradictions of pursuing peace and justice are a particular challenge in the context of large-scale conflict, whether internal or international. Both mediators and human rights advocates could use more humility and less arrogance, since neither group can create world (or even local) peace on their own. This article argues that the two disciplines need to build on their shared values of impartiality and independence, while maintaining the distinctive features of each approach, including their concern with ensuring that the less powerful are adequately protected and represented. Neither group should be tolerant of injustice. It concludes that collaboration, or at least mutual appreciation, is certainly feasible, particularly as greater empirical knowledge is gained about both the limits and possibilities of outside interventions.