Procedural Justice in Deliberation: Theoretical Explanations and Empirical Findings

• In Event: Deliberation and Its Effects

Abstract

This paper reviewed extant conceptualizations of procedural justice and reported results of an empirical study testing the effects of fair procedures on deliberative outcomes. From a communicative action perspective, this paper argued that Habermas’s conceptions of speech conditions and validity conditions can be used to evaluate the discursive and non-discursive dimensions of procedural justice. These communicative measures are compatible with extant justice measures and provide a more communication-centered ground for evaluating the rightfulness of political decision making. The applied setting involved public discussions about the Singapore government’s population policies in an online deliberation setting. Survey data were collected from 456 participants before and after deliberations. Fair procedures were positively associated with participants’ discussion satisfaction and their general support for deliberative decision making. The relationship between procedural justice and specific policy support was mixed. Findings from this study help advance existing knowledge about the normative and practical values of fair deliberation.

Authors

• Leanne Chang, Hong Kong Baptist University

• weiyu zhang, National U of Singapore