In person icon Unfulfilled Promise: Rethinking the Justice/Peace Nexus in the Global Margins of Conflict

Abstract

International justice and peace are intricately linked yet often approached as competing objectives in global governance. This duality highlights a profound paradox: although increasingly central to international frameworks, justice remains marginalized in practice by global actors and underexplored in disciplines like political science and international relations. In an era marked by the juridification of international political relations, this dual marginalization underscores an urgent need for interdisciplinary engagement. Justice, rooted in philosophical inquiry, is essential not only for addressing power, statehood, sovereignty, and equity but also as a cornerstone for sustainable peace in global affairs. These disciplines must reclaim justice as a shared imperative, transcending legal boundaries to explore its potential as a transformative force in resolving conflicts and fostering equitable, enduring peace. The intensifying crises in Ukraine, Gaza, Syria, Sudan spotlight justice’s pivotal role in international relations, where demands for accountability and redress grow urgent in a fractured international order. As the global order grapples with tensions between established post-WWII legal frameworks and the so called rules-based order(s), the divergences in conceptions and perceived urgency of justice between the Global North and South become starker. These divides underscore contrasting interpretations of justice’s scope, function and immediacy, revealing an increasingly polarized international discourse that mirrors broader asymmetries in power and influence across the geopolitical landscape. For peoples such as the Palestinians, Kurds, Cypriots, and Armenians, justice is not merely an abstract principle but an unfulfilled and pressing fundamental necessity. Historically marginalized groups in international forums, represent critical voices in redefining justice as an actionable force. Today’s conflicts, therefore, call for a reassessment of justice’s transformative capacity in bridging divides, not only as a theoretical aspiration but as a catalyst for structural change in a fractured world order. This panel invites a comprehensive inquiry into the theoretical and practical dimensions of international justice, particularly as they intersect with the core principles of statehood and sovereignty within today’s fragmented and conflicted global order. It aims to disrupt the false dichotomy between peace and justice by proposing that justice should be a central force in conflict resolution and post-conflict recovery, rather than an afterthought or secondary concern. In an international landscape that prioritizes stability, justice must be re-envisioned as a catalyst for structural change, capable of transcending traditional power structures and addressing the moral imperatives of a world in flux. This call for exploration is not merely conceptual; it is an urgent demand for a deeper, critical engagement with the political, philosophical, and normative dimensions of justice. By interrogating its place, accessibility and limits, the section seeks to move beyond a narrow legalistic approach, positioning justice at the core of efforts to achieve sustainable and equitable peace as a fundamental component of a more just and peaceful international order. This panel seeks to foster an interdisciplinary dialogue that reimagines justice not merely as a legal principle but as a transformative force capable of addressing structural inequities and fostering sustainable peace. By critically examining its theoretical foundations and practical applications, the panel aims to explore justice’s potential to bridge divides and empower marginalized voices in the global margins of conflict. Contributions are encouraged to challenge traditional approaches, advance innovative perspectives, and interrogate the political, philosophical, and normative dimensions of justice and peace in today’s fractured international order.

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