Fix the mistake: Toward a Better Society

Conflict and Agreement; Fairness and Efficiency

In society, conflicts of opinions and interests are unavoidable. To overcome them and create agreement, the perspectives of fairness and efficiency are important.

Basic Knowledge

Society consists of diverse people, so conflicts arise because their values, interests, and positions differ. For example, sunlight rights may conflict with development during the construction of an apartment building, or nearby residents may oppose the construction of a nursery school. Conflicts also occur in familiar situations.
Two perspectives are important for reaching agreement:
・Efficiency: a perspective that eliminates waste and achieves the greatest results. Optimizing costs and time.
・Fairness: ①procedural fairness (everyone can participate in decisions), ②fairness of results (opportunities and results are not unevenly distributed), and ③fairness of opportunity (equal opportunities to participate are provided).
Methods of reaching agreement include unanimity, majority rule, mediation, and arbitration. Even under majority rule, respect for minority opinions is a principle of democracy.

Key Terms
Conflict (differences in opinions, interests, or values; an unavoidable aspect of society)
Agreement (reaching an accommodation by overcoming conflict)
Efficiency (a perspective that eliminates waste and achieves the greatest results)
Fairness (a condition without bias from the three perspectives of procedures, results, and opportunities)
Majority rule (a decision-making method that adopts the majority opinion; minority opinions must also be respected)
Respect for minority opinions (the principle of listening to and incorporating minority views even under majority rule)

Further Study (Background and Significance)

Reaching agreement takes time and effort, but it is important for gaining acceptance and preventing conflicts from continuing. However, forcing a decision through by majority rule can lead to the tyranny of the majority. J.S. Mill warned against the tyranny of the majority in On Liberty.
For example, when changing school rules, opinions from students, teachers, parents, and other groups should be heard, and agreement should be reached while balancing efficiency (deciding within the available time) and fairness (allowing everyone to express an opinion).
In the age of social media, it is important to beware of the echo chamber and filter bubble, in which people mainly encounter opinions similar to their own, and to listen to different opinions.

Key Points
  • The process from conflict to agreement is the core of democracy
  • Efficiency = a perspective that eliminates waste
  • Fairness = three perspectives: procedures, results, and opportunities
  • The principle of majority rule and respect for minority opinions
  • Tyranny of the majority (J.S. Mill, On Liberty)
  • Methods of reaching agreement = unanimity, majority rule, mediation, and arbitration
  • Beware of echo chambers on social media

Points to Note (Easily Confused)

① Efficiency (eliminating waste) and fairness (eliminating bias) are different concepts and often involve a trade-off. ② Fairness has three perspectives: procedures, results, and opportunities. ③ Majority rule is important, but it must be combined with respect for minority opinions. ④ Distinguish mediation (a third party intervenes) from arbitration (a third party makes a ruling).

Practice

  1. Give all three perspectives of fairness.
  2. What principle is important when using majority rule?
  3. Give one example in which efficiency and fairness involve a trade-off.

Civics (Junior High): related lessons