After a decade of deregulation and economic liberalization, 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.
Recognizing 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 legitimization. The second part includes
empirical research on the mechanisms of conflict and cooperation in
social relations. (Series: Stratification and Inequality - Vol. 12)