Justice in Organizations

Triarchy Press is starting work on the theme of Justice in Organizations - beginning by sponsoring an exhibition of paintings and drawings by Ricky Romain at Tooks Chambers and by organizing a seminar on The Shadow Organization: the Absence of Justice in Organizations on 7th February 2007

The theme of the seminar is alienation and injustice in organizations and in society as a whole. Specifically, it suggests that our attitudes to migrant workers and asylum seekers might be projections of deeper, fundamental and quasi-hidden social issues. They might, it is suggested, reflect the complexity of behaviours that we inflict on one another in the organizations of which we are constituent members - from family to workplace to government.

I think it's great that Triarchy Press is working on this theme. Here are my own thoughts to start the discussion, which will be developed at the seminar:

* Organizations are obviously not the same as society, but the huge amount of study on justice in society could be useful and should be drawn on.

* the term 'justice' has many connotations. In tabloid newspapers today it tends to mean vengeance or punishment. The criminal justice system has similar vengeful aspects, but it could also be seen as a crime-control system and unfortunately as a crime-creation system, because prisons act as universities of crime. It may be important to define what 'justice in organizations' means for the Triarchy project.

* justice is a concept that overlaps with other concepts such as fairness and respect. Exploring these overlaps might help.

* Michael Walzer writes comprehensively of spheres of justice, which often need to be kept separate if justice is to be seen to be done. Walzer says that no one should be dominant in one sphere (e.g. wealth) just because he or she is foremost in another sphere (e.g. political power or intelligence).

I'd be interested in any thoughts or comments arising from this.