Addressing injustice is part of the peace process from "summary" of Peace Process by William B. Quandt
The resolution of longstanding conflicts requires more than just signing agreements and shaking hands. True peace cannot be achieved if underlying injustices are left unaddressed. Injustice festers like an untreated wound, causing resentment and anger to simmer beneath the surface. Any sustainable peace process must include a reckoning with the injustices that have fueled the conflict in the first place. Addressing injustice is not just a moral imperative; it is a practical necessity. Injustice creates fertile ground for future conflict, as grievances left unresolved continue to breed resentment and mistrust. When people feel that their suffering has been ignored or dismissed, they are unlikely to embrace a peace settlement wholeheartedly. Instead, they may seek alternative means to redress their grievances, perpetuating a cycle of violence and instability. Furthermore, addressing injustice is essential for building a foundation of trust between former adversaries. When one party has been the victim of systemic discrimination or violence, they are unlikely to trust promises of peace from the perpetrators without concrete actions to address the wrongs of the past. Reconciliation requires a shared acknowledgment of past injustices and a commitment to redress them through meaningful reparations and reforms. In many cases, addressing injustice may involve difficult conversations about historical wrongs, reparations for victims, and structural reforms to ensure that such injustices are not repeated in the future. These conversations can be painful and contentious, but they are necessary for building a lasting peace based on justice and equality. Without addressing the root causes of conflict, peace agreements risk being mere Band-Aids that fail to heal the deeper wounds of injustice.- A peace process that does not address injustice is unlikely to succeed in the long term. Injustice is like a cancer that, if left untreated, will continue to metastasize and threaten the stability of any peace settlement. By confronting the injustices of the past and working towards a more just and equitable future, parties to a conflict can lay the groundwork for a sustainable peace that addresses the root causes of violence and division.
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