Beyond white man's justice

Abstract

This article proposes three principles which justice should incorporate if it is to move beyond the closures and exclusions of white man's justice. After a brief review of feminist and critical race theory literature that establishes the white, male character of justice in modern liberal societies, the principles of discursiveness, relationalism and reflectiveness are explained and discussed. Their implications for restorative justice are discussed. Oppression and inequality are suggested as concepts that can guide the operation, context and limits of discursiveness, relationalism and reflectiveness. In the final section, the problem of relativism against universalism is discussed, and its relevance to the development of restorative justice suggested.