Justice and social conflict

This article analyzes possible effects of ideas of justice, perceptions of injustice, and the use of justice arguments on the emergence, course, and r esolution of social conflicts. Four functions of justice are identified: (I ) ideas of justice and perceptions of injustice can elicit or evoke social conflicts; (2) justice arguments and rhetorics can be used to support one's own position in a dispute; (3) the basic value and the principles and rule s of justice can restrict social conflicts and help to generate ways of con flict resolution; (4) the labelling of conflict resolutions as just can inc rease the acceptance of the resolution. The analysis is illustrated by maki ng reference to a recent case of international conflict and diplomatic cont roversy.