Social Justice in Conflict Resolution–A Holistic Approach to Peacebuilding. Member Spotlight: Adelle Blackett
Adelle Blackett’s passionate dedication to social justice and fostering equitable inclusion is evident through her extensive experiences and achievements in law, academia, and authorship. Her impressive body of work covers a range of topics, including labor rights, human rights, and trade law. Her commitment to upholding dignity and fairness in the world of work is reflected in every aspect of her career, from her scholarly pursuits to her active involvement in policy-making.
Adelle has been a professor at McGill University in Montreal for close to 25 years, teaching international trade and various topics in transnational labor law. She earned her BA degree in History from Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario, followed by civil law and common law degrees from McGill University, as well as a Master of Law and a Doctor of Juridical Science from Columbia University.
Social Justice in Peacebuilding
Recently, Adelle has increasingly been interested in thinking about the ways in which her work leads towards a kind of conflict resolution that is more holistic than traditional approaches. Part of her trajectory has been to work internationally, largely with the International Labour Organization, whose mission is to promote social justice and human labor rights. Their motto, “If you desire peace, cultivate justice,” has been particularly relevant to Adelle’s work and her commitment to fostering universal and lasting peace through social justice.
Rather than viewing social justice as a linear path to peace, Adelle integrates the multistage process of peacebuilding into her understanding of social justice. She emphasizes that understanding the processes behind social justice work is equally as crucial as the work itself. Without focusing on peacebuilding in the context of engaging with social justice issues, the true essence of justice might be lost.
“I have always been interested in the world of work and how much it can define people, framing their life options for better or worse, and how close it is to people’s sense of their own self-worth and dignity,” Adelle explains, highlighting her deep-rooted personal interest in labor rights.
Over time, Adelle continues, “my notion of work has broadened as I’ve thought more about what it means to do the work of care or domestic work—paid or unpaid reproductive labor—and its relationship to democracy.” Emphasizing the unsustainable shortcomings in lower/middle-class labor circumstances, Adelle asks, “If people spend most of their waking hours at work, how can we infuse those experiences with a sense of their ability to exercise their voice and to be heard in workplace contexts as an act of democratic governance?” Ensuring the autonomous and actionable individual rights of people in the workplace serves as a foundational element in the collective process towards peace as a product of social justice.
Adelle has held various roles throughout her career that have led to impactful policy changes. Her involvement in drafting the Convention concerning Decent Work for Domestic Workers, adopted in 2011 by the International Labour Organization, resulted in an international instrument ratified by several countries worldwide. Additionally, her contribution to preparing a Haitian draft labor code involved uniting parties who had been “stakeholders who, for a range of geopolitical reasons, had not been able to sustain a culture of dialogue.” Fostering a collaborative, deliberative process where the involved parties are able to uncover common ground and shared priorities is a fundamental aspect of policy-driven change.
The Power of Language in Mediation
“If you talk to a man in a language he understands, you speak to his head. If you talk to him in his own language, you speak to his heart.” Nelson Mandela’s philosophy on the power of language applies valuably in the field of mediation, especially among those who work to appeal and connect to others through a variety of native and foreign forms of communication. Language serves Adelle in her work as a lawyer, mediator, and academic. Her reference to a notable Nelson Mandela quote, cited above, encompasses the power of language to unite beyond frontiers of culture, politics, or race. “When mediating and building peace, the ability to reach all our senses and speak to people’s hearts is a huge part of moving beyond the stumbling blocks,” she says. For Adelle, language enables vulnerability, which is particularly crucial for those whose first language is English. “Pausing to reflect and say, ‘I’m going to give up some power and make a connection,’ is a powerful act,” she adds, emphasizing the transformative potential of communication and choosing to allow yourself to be vulnerable.
Challengesin Mediation
From a peacekeeping perspective, Adelle highlights the difficulty in identifying whom to engage with during mediation. Achieving a durable sense of peace requires inclusive engagement. “Globally, mediation often focuses on key political actors, usually men,” while neglecting those directly affected by the conflict–those who are “absolutely critical to maintaining the social fabric and ongoing forms of peace.” Engaging broader constituencies, she says, “is a crucial step forward,” reinforcing her commitment to supporting an equitable and inclusive mediation approach. Adelle emphasizes the need for a multi-stage, plural process in mediation, recognizing that power is multimodal. “We tend to identify a single locus of power and negotiate there, but power is multimodal,” she says, advocating for models of multilateral peacebuilding and mediation teams with multiple levels of engagement. This perspective encourages a more nuanced and comprehensive approach to conflict resolution, emphasizing social justice and interconnected nature of power dynamics.
The Synergy of Peacebuilding
“I enjoy feeling a synergy between the objectives I seek and the methods used to achieve them,” Adelle reflects. Likening the ongoing nature of peacebuilding to the academic process of teaching and learning, Adelle explains the degree of diligence and consistency needed to cultivate enduring foundations for peace. “It is ongoing, it is not just a moment in time… How people feel during the process influences the quality and depth of their commitment to the agreement. This is analogous to the peacebuilding model through mediation that I espouse,” she explains.
Looking Ahead
Adelle looks forward to finding a community with MBBI in the otherwise solitary work of mediation, valuing the collective aspect of the organization and its unification of professionals with diverse expertise and interests. “Having a community of mediators committed to peacebuilding is fabulous,” she enthuses, appreciating the support and shared mission.
Adelle is set to assume a new position at the International Labour Organization as Senior Advisor to the Director General. Her future work will involve collaboration with international organizations, where she aims to apply her transversal skills and insights. This role marks a new chapter in her illustrious career, promising further contributions to global labor rights and social justice.
Key Lessons and Advice
“You never truly know how much you will learn if you listen deeply and remain genuinely curious,” Adelle shares. Upholding these values is central to understanding the relationship between social justice and peace, and maintaining a dedication to asking the difficult questions and digging deeper into the ‘Why’. Her advice underscores the importance of openness and continuous learning in mediation.
When asked what advice she would give to a new mediator starting out in the field, Adelle advises to read widely. Diving into the breadths of valuable work that’s available to you is a way to both demystify and ground yourself in a field that may initially feel overwhelming or intimidating. Adelle suggests starting “close” with mediation, emphasizing the value of integrating mediation skills into daily life to establish a valuable yet tangible starting point. “Start with your relationships. Build peace as a way of being. Mediation should be a way of life, combining expertise with an embrace of mediation as a path to growth,” she offers.
In response to being asked what she would like to see improve or change in the field of mediation, Adelle stresses the importance of seizing the current pivotal moment for multilateralism. “Part of my hope for the field of mediation is that we will seize the importance of this moment and bring our skills, commitment, and wisdom to tackle intractable challenges. I hope for a collective effort in reimagining the model of peacebuilding more capaciously so that we are sensing that in any given room, there might be many mediators in the work,” she concludes, envisioning a collaborative and hopeful future for mediation. Starting close, as Adelle advises, is something we can all do. Cultivating proactive, curious, and meaningful dialogue within our quotidian relationships is an essential stage of the peacebuilding process. Taking action to build a more equitable, inclusive, and peaceful world is a mission that begins with each individual effort.
Article by Sarah Stenovec, MBBI Writer