A Deep dive within the landscapes of contested meanings of “Justice”
Concepts emerge through the experience of humans, they are dependant on the intersubjective reality shared by a group. it then follows logically that a concept morphs its meaning along with the changes in any of the factors of that intersubjective space.
“Justice”, as inextricably intertwined with the systemic Power structure, is experienced Intersectionally
The Systemic / Structural Perspective (The Architect of Hierarchy)
This is the perspective of the dominant power structure (e.g., the Spanish Crown, colonial administrations, neoliberal state) as it constructs and maintains systems of othering.
Definition: Justice is the preservation of order and the logical enforcement of a naturalized hierarchy. It is the system working as intended.
Manifestation
From this viewpoint, justice is not about equality but about ensuring that each group remains in its “proper” place, as defined by the dominant group.
Spanish Inquisition: “Justice” was rooting out heresy to protect the purity of the Catholic faith and state.
Colonial Law: “Justice” was enforcing treaties (often violated) and laws that codified the superiority of white, Christian settlers over Indigenous and enslaved populations.
Neoliberal Framework: “Justice” is often framed as “equal opportunity” within an inherently unequal market system, where outcomes are justified by meritocracy, ignoring historical and structural disadvantages.
The Perspective of the Marginalized (The Subject of Hierarchy)
This is the perspective of those on the “lower end” of the constructed marginalization/privilege hierarchy, as articulated by critical voices within these groups.
Definition: Justice is dismantling the structures of oppression and achieving liberation, both material and psychological. It is fundamentally about repair and self-determination.
Manifestation
This perspective, informed by thinkers like Angela Davis, Steve Biko, and Achille Mbembe, sees justice as a transformative, not punitive, process. It includes:
Material Justice: Redistribution of wealth, land, and power. Abolishing institutions like prisons that cause harm.
Psychological Justice: The eradication of internalized racism and the celebration of cultural identity (Black Consciousness).
Epistemic Justice: The validation of marginalized knowledge systems and the decolonization of thought (Decoloniality).
The Perspective of Internalized Racism (The Internalized Oppressor)
This is the perspective that has been absorbed by individuals within marginalized groups, reflecting the logic of the dominant system.
Definition:Justice is assimilation and conditional acceptance into the dominant group. It is achieved through individual conformity and adherence to respectability politics.
Manifestation
This distorted view of justice internalizes the blame for oppression. It believes:
Justice is earned by proving one’s group is “respectable,” “hard-working,” and non-threatening (the “Model Minority” myth applied internally).
It is an individual, not collective, pursuit. Success is a personal triumph over the failings of one’s own community.
It often manifests as lateral hostility, where “justice” for the self is perceived as distancing from others in the group who are deemed “to be holding us back.”
The Neoliberal Co-optation Perspective (The Manager of Dissent)
This is the perspective of the system adapting to demands for change without altering its fundamental power dynamics
Definition:Justice is representation, inclusion, and the management of diversity within the existing structure. It is a performance of change rather than systemic change itself.
Manifestation
This perspective, visible in corporate DEI initiatives and philanthrocapitalism, redefines justice in market-friendly terms:
It swaps redistribution for representation (e.g., more Black CEOs instead of challenging wealth inequality).
It swaps liberation for resilience (e.g., funding trauma counseling instead of removing the sources of trauma).
It swaps structural accountability for charity (e.g., billionaire philanthropy instead of progressive taxation).
Justice becomes a metric to be achieved (a “diverse” workforce) rather than a continuous struggle for power.
The Dissident / Critical Researcher’s Perspective
A multifield with a critical dissident lens, this perspective synthesizes and analyzes all of the different perspectives and their contradictions.
Definition: Justice is the active and continuous process of dismantling all structures of othering and building new forms of relationality based on collective liberation, rather than hierarchical domination.
Comprehensive view
Justice is an Intersectional and Abolitionist Project. It recognizes that systems of oppression (racism, patriarchy, capitalism) are intertwined and must be dismantled together. It follows the principle of “Abolition Democracy”: not just tearing down harmful institutions like prisons, but building robust communities where such institutions are no longer thought necessary.
Justice is Decolonial. It requires the dismantling of the “coloniality of power”—the enduring racial, epistemic, and geopolitical hierarchies established by colonialism. This means centering marginalized knowledges and pursuing epistemic justice.
Justice is Material and Redistributive. It is impossible without the radical redistribution of resources, land, and power. It directly confronts and seeks to repair the historical and ongoing economic violence of racial capitalism.
Justice is Incompatible with Neoliberal Co-optation. A critical lens is essential for distinguishing between genuine justice and managerial “painkillers” that cool resistance. True justice is inherently disruptive to the status quo; it cannot be comfortably incorporated into a corporate annual report.
Justice is dismantling the structures of oppression and achieving liberation, both material and psychological. It is fundamentally about repair and self-determination.
“I am no longer accepting the things I cannot change. I am changing the things I cannot accept.”
― Angela Y. Davis