VU academics blog monthly about improving societal connectedness at advalvas.vu.nl/column-blog/
Interpersonal conflict occurs in every organisation – and universities are no exception. However, academic environments have certain characteristics which can create more opportunities for conflict and disrespect of boundaries. Universities function in a very hierarchical manner, and academics are under great pressure to publish and bring in money. Research reports and media have proven that this can create a breeding ground for feelings of social unsafety. Undesirable behaviour – long tolerated as part of ‘office culture’ – is no longer accepted.
Conflicts concerning interpersonal or sexually transgressive behaviour, which has been the subject of recent discussions at universities (at least when they come to the surface) are typically solved by punishing the transgressor or removing them from the facility where the transgression took place. I argue that punishment, as a sole intervention, is usually not an effective solution since it does not address the harm and the needs of the parties involved. Punishment by separation may help make the environment safer for a little while, but it does not create ways for the transgressor to learn new behaviours, nor does it provide answers for or ease the pain of the transgressee. Parties are left feeling unheard, unhealed, ostracised and marginalised. I propose a better alternative: healing and prevention through restorative justice. Restorative justice is an evidence-based practice and method that originated in criminal law, focusing on creating connections between victims and offenders to repair the harm caused. It involves bringing together the harmed and their harmer, and members of the community. In case of universities, the community would consist of colleagues, fellow students, confidential officers, and counsellors, among others. Restorative dialogue, for example in dialogue circles (gatherings in which participants sit in a circle facing each other), provides opportunities to communicate experiences, to be heard and validated, and to address needs and concerns.
The scientific evidence is convincing. The process facilitates healing and can provide a sense of closure for victims. In turn, it offers offenders an opportunity to take responsibility for their actions and make amends, which has been shown to increase victim empathy and reduce the likelihood of reoffending. The process of restorative justice can thus provide a path towards rehabilitation and reintegration into the community.
It is not without limitations, requiring a significant amount of time and resources to facilitate a dialogue and reconciliation process. Not all conflicts are suitable, and some people may not be willing or able to participate. In these cases, it is important that restorative justice facilitators ensure that the safety of the participants is prioritised and that support and resources are provided throughout the process. Also, punishment may still be necessary.
Despite these challenges, restorative justice is a promising, valuable and effective approach of addressing harm that also contributes to the prevention and mitigation of polarisation. Focusing on human connection and dialogue provides a better and more sustainable alternative to the traditional legal approach. Restorative justice has been proven to show successful results in a criminal law context. Slowly, (research) initiatives are also being started at the meso level, for example in companies and schools, and at the macro level, for example to mitigate conflicts related to decolonisation or proactively discuss climate issues. Big changes start small, so let’s work on a more compassionate and holistic way of addressing conflicts in our own circle of impact, the VU community. In this way, we are planting the seeds for a more connected society as a whole.