Inequality, Discrimination and Conflict in Japan : Ways to Social Justice and Cooperation

After a decade of deregulation and economic liberalisation, the high levels of unity and social harmony that had been achieved during Japan's decades of rapid economic growth are under threat. Social conflict is rapidly increasing as economic disparities continue to grow, as the economy remains stagnant, and as new generations of workers find it increasingly difficult to find positions in the lifetime employment system. Against this backdrop, this book reports on the latest social psychology research into social conflict in Japan and how it is managed. Recognising that social justice is an important factor in many forms of social conflict, each chapter of the book addresses the issue of conflict resolution from a social justice perspective. The first part of the book analyzes the growing disparities and perceptions of injustice in Japan today from the perspectives of social class, value, social principle, culture, and legitimisation. The second part includes empirical research on the mechanisms of conflict and cooperation in social relations.