Difference between revisions of "Database of drivers of injustice"

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Justice is understood here as a variegated set of conditions ― substantially concerned with distribution of resources, political processes, and social recognition ― that allows for full human flourishing. If conditions within a given society systematically support some, but hinder other individuals or groups with regard to basic flourishing (i.e. thriving within reasonable limits) according to achievable outcomes that they value in order to live a healthy and fulfilled life, then that society is to some degree unjust (see for example the work of Fraser, 2005; Nussbaum, 2000; Schlosberg, 2013). Justice is thus fundamentally about how societies mend (or exacerbate) social inequities that stop some people from flourishing, and the fundamental threads of justice are formed by the different types of inclusions and equalities, or exclusions and inequalities, that might affect the capacity to ensure equity.  
Justice is understood here as a variegated set of conditions ― substantially concerned with distribution of resources, political processes, and social recognition ― that allows for full human flourishing. If conditions within a given society systematically support some, but hinder other individuals or groups with regard to basic flourishing (i.e. thriving within reasonable limits) according to achievable outcomes that they value in order to live a healthy and fulfilled life, then that society is to some degree unjust (see for example the work of Fraser, 2005 <ref> Fraser, N. (2005). Mapping the feminist imagination: From redistribution to recognition to representation. Constellations, 12(3), 295–307. https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511619205.002 </ref>; Nussbaum, 2000 <ref>Nussbaum, M. (2000). Women’s capabilities and social justice. Journal of Human Development, 1(2), 219–247.</ref>; Schlosberg, 2013 <ref>Schlosberg, D. (2013). Theorising environmental justice: the expanding sphere of a discourse. Environmental Politics, 22(1), 37–55.</ref>). Justice is thus fundamentally about how societies mend (or exacerbate) social inequities that stop some people from flourishing, and the fundamental threads of justice are formed by the different types of inclusions and equalities, or exclusions and inequalities, that might affect the capacity to ensure equity.  





Revision as of 08:41, 27 July 2020

Examination of 43 relevant major EU-funded research projects taking place since the mid-2000s identified the following ten drivers of injustice which manifest, arise or are being exacerbated, in the context of urban sustainability efforts:

  1. Exclusive access to the benefits of sustainability infrastructure
  2. Material and livelihood inequalities
  3. Racialized or ethnically exclusionary urbanization
  4. Uneven and exclusionary urban intensification and regeneration
  5. Uneven environmental health and pollution patterns
  6. Unfit institutional structures
  7. Limited citizen participation in urban planning
  8. Lack of effective knowledge brokerage and stewardship opportunities
  9. Unquestioned Neoliberal growth and austerity urbanism
  10. Weak(ened) civil society


Justice is understood here as a variegated set of conditions ― substantially concerned with distribution of resources, political processes, and social recognition ― that allows for full human flourishing. If conditions within a given society systematically support some, but hinder other individuals or groups with regard to basic flourishing (i.e. thriving within reasonable limits) according to achievable outcomes that they value in order to live a healthy and fulfilled life, then that society is to some degree unjust (see for example the work of Fraser, 2005 [1]; Nussbaum, 2000 [2]; Schlosberg, 2013 [3]). Justice is thus fundamentally about how societies mend (or exacerbate) social inequities that stop some people from flourishing, and the fundamental threads of justice are formed by the different types of inclusions and equalities, or exclusions and inequalities, that might affect the capacity to ensure equity.


The drivers presented in this database formed the basis of discussions at the second UrbanA Arena event, taking place online on June 4th and 5th 2020, and organized by the Barcelona Lab for Urban Environmental Justice and Sustainability. Insights were added to complement the information in the summary booklet prepared for the Arena, and the wiki pages will be opened for further co-creation by members of the UrbanA Community of Practice.


Short video summaries of each driver are also available on the UrbanA Youtube account.

  1. Fraser, N. (2005). Mapping the feminist imagination: From redistribution to recognition to representation. Constellations, 12(3), 295–307. https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511619205.002
  2. Nussbaum, M. (2000). Women’s capabilities and social justice. Journal of Human Development, 1(2), 219–247.
  3. Schlosberg, D. (2013). Theorising environmental justice: the expanding sphere of a discourse. Environmental Politics, 22(1), 37–55.