Linking Social Justice to Peace

This past year a colleague and I searched for a definition of social justice. It was not as easy as one might suspect. However, the School of Social Work at the University of St. Thomas did develop Ten Principles of Social Justice. It is the tenth principle they listed “Promotion of Peace” which seemed to encapsulate the essence of what the interconnection between social justice and peace entails. “Peace is the fruit of justice and is dependent upon the respect and cooperation between peoples and nations”. It also mentions that social workers are called to promote peace and non-violence at all levels – within families, communities, society and globally.


We need to reflect upon how we promote the range of principles related to social justice to best promote peace. These include assuring human dignity and workers’ rights, assuring that our society supports individuals to fulfill their human potential, to protect people and resources on the planet, and to prioritize that the needs of people who are poor and vulnerable are met. It is crucial for us all to understand that peace, in the broadest sense, is integrally connected to the domains of social justice in our world.

Scott Meyer