20 February 2023 - The struggle for social justice is hard because its intent is to disrupt the existing order which is unjust, but deeply entrenched in how our systems operate. Bringing about change in a peaceful, non-violent manner, consistent with the rule of law is a challenge, and history is replete with examples of frustrated groups resorting to unlawful means. Bringing about change that leads to social justice requires action, and a distinction is increasingly made between activists and actionists. These change agents include businesses and civil society organisations.

The two worlds are often seen as distinct universes, which do not intersect. Activists challenge geo-political contexts, including social injustice and economic inequities; applying the lens of environmentalism or the more people-centric language of social justice. Then there are actionists, who are focused on outcomes and results that affect the issues on the ground, frequently working closely with or within affected communities

The two are not that far apart; both work towards the same goal. There is a continuum that connects these two apparently different worlds.

Activists and Actionists

Activists include policy advocates—those who take a broad, holistic view, draw on lessons from different settings and contexts. It also includes those who make prescriptions for policy change: if mosquito nets are given away in an African village and the spread of malaria has reduced, is it replicable in Latin America or Asia? Can we learn by doing?

At the same time, activists’ actions may be restricted to lobbying international organisations and agencies; in which case these are seen only by a few, where their proposals and ideas turn into transformative policies. They are the quiet engagers who work constructively with all parties. Think of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) which provides invaluable services on the ground but also upholds the sanctity of international humanitarian law, becoming the world’s conscience-keepers.

Other policy advocates, particularly in civil society, consider public advocacy their lifeblood and sometimes opt for a more confrontational mode, including direct action. This includes naming and shaming companies and governments for alleged wrongdoing, calling for punitive action such as boycott, and sometimes taking direct action of civil disobedience. Such actions do raise public awareness, but their effectiveness has been questioned since they also create public annoyance, which might erode public support. They may interfere with legitimate travel, such as ambulances which cannot move during a traffic standstill. Such actions may also be unlawful.

Bridging the gap

Many human rights and development groups play both roles: Amnesty International has a vast pool of activists who write letters and campaign for change, but their outrage is fueled by research conducted by Amnesty’s researchers.

Human Rights Watch produces research and its policy advocates lobby for change, including filing amicus briefs in courts.

Oxfam raises funds in times of crises but also plays a major role in advocating for policy changes at international financial institutions. It criticises corporations whose policies contribute to economic or social injustice, but also works with companies in some instances to make positive impacts on the ground. Other civil society groups, such as International Alert and Search for Common Ground, work directly in war-affected regions to act as peace-builders and turn their experiences into reports that advance our thinking about the conflict dynamic.

The role of business in social justice

Just as civil society organisations perform multiple roles, businesses too have multiple impacts. An oil company may have lagged in moving towards producing clean, green energy, but it may also be providing scholarship to women and girls to study Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) subjects, addressing a chronic deficit. A company that is an online platform may have a lukewarm record in protecting data and privacy but may have stubbornly refused to close accounts or user-generated content of human rights defenders and dissidents.

This reveals the complexity of the term social justice: it is all-encompassing, and affects virtually every human right, and every sphere of human activity.

Few societies have reached the nirvana of perfect harmony and social justice; every society is a work-in-progress. But countries that have superior performance on human development index also have better outcomes, such as reduced infant and maternal mortality, higher literacy, and improving life expectancy.

These are complex issues that no single organisation can fix. There is a need to acknowledge the  power imbalances between the global north and south, understanding the differences between large and small countries, where power resides within a country and where there is persistent discrimination.

Some ways of supporting are through promoting the sustainable development goals, acting in ways that are consistent with the universal declaration of human rights, the International Labour Organisation’s core conventions; listening to affected communities; promoting diversity, inclusion, and equity, speaking out when rights are harmed; working quietly to defend defenders and bringing about change; providing tangible, concrete and visible evidence of positive outcomes, and admitting when things go wrong, and providing effective remedies to address adverse impacts of the company’s own actions.

Business does not have the luxury of being neutral; it must not be complicit in societal dysfunctions; it can be an advocate for social justice. Learn more about this in the Business and Social Justice: A Force for Social Change course.

Delivered in Collaboration with GetSmarter

The University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL) is collaborating with digital education provider GetSmarter, a brand of 2U, Inc., to provide an interactive and supported online learning experience.

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