Photo: M. Omer

When power starts to shift dramatically, whether in Latin America, North Africa or elsewhere, advancing social justice can prove a contradictory process. Justice, the rule of law, peace and equal rights ­- including sexual and reproductive health rights, the right to development or the right to political participation - may be promised, whilst simultaneously injustices, violence and exclusions continue to shape people’s daily lives. Advancing global promises such as safety, human rights and human security, including food security, requires a critical engagement with the realities of peoples’ social exclusion. These tensions between the aspirations and realities of social justice form the starting point of this Major.

The Major theorizes processes involved in rights protection, gender justice, peace-building and reconstruction. From the challenges in realizing economic and social rights to the relevance of gender and sexualities in development discourse, the courses available in this Major examine how states, civic actors and global institutions negotiate economic and social justice, both materially and discursively. Critically and from a multidisciplinary perspective, the key political, economic, legal, social and symbolic processes involved in social justice perspectives are identified.

The Major reflects on theories, social practices and policy interventions, especially in relation to tackling social injustice in the context of globalization. The Major is informed by social movement, labour movement and civil society approaches to transformative politics and policy. How are justice, human rights, gender, violence and social change framed and approached by different local, global and transnational actors? What knowledge and power dynamics are involved in effectively promoting social justice?

Participants completing this Major become familiar with theoretical perspectives and policy debates around social justice in a context of globalization. They learn about the latest scholarly analysis, as well as diverse delivery mechanisms. Students’ ability to engage with social change efforts will be enhanced, whether through policy interventions, research or civil society approaches.

SJP Main Moodle Pages for staff and students (N.B. This is the ISS virtual learning environment and requires a username and password)

Courses

SJP 4143 Core course Moodle Pages ("Contemporary Perspectives on Social Justice")

Other Term 1 courses (2012/13)

Other Term 2 courses (2012/13)

Other Term 3 courses (2012/13)

Specializations

Conflict and Peace Studies

Human Rights

Women and Gender Studies

Social Movements and Action Research Tools

Target group

The Major offers a broad range of analytical and practical skills to young and mid-career professionals and aspiring academics interested and engaged in human rights, women and gender and in peace work, whether in government, research or civil society organizations.

Find out more about the ISS student body