Fairness is treating people as equal and doing so in ways that, within that culture, are seen by everyone to be “fair.” Fairness is an interesting challenge when working in different cultures in that local understandings of fairness differ. Every society has clear notions of what is fair and unfair. Every society has rules and norms that everyone understands as fair (and unfair). But, from society to society, these notions can and do vary.

For example, in some places, people feel that aid should be directed toward single, elderly people as a priority because of their vulnerability. In other societies, people feel that “fairness” requires that families with multiple mouths to feed should be given priority. Either of these can be “right”. The question is which is seen by people in this location at this time to be the “fair” way to distribute resources.

Fairness does not require equality in distribution. Within societies, people expect and accept differences. It is possible to recognize the value of people without putting them in competition with others. Essentially, people feel it is fair when those who “deserve” things get them, and those who “do not deserve” them do not get them. When interveners follow the rules, this shows that we care for and respect the effort of cooperation and collaboration that went into the rules.

Fighters and those inciting conflict intend to differentiate between “us” and “them”. They want different groups to be treated differently. They both define and treat groups in such a way. They reward loyalty to their cause and penalize others.

As a behavior, fairness comes from an attitude of respect for local priorities and an eagerness to learn from people—from many people at many levels—what the rules of the game are for them, in that context. Interveners who are acting from fairness want to know how options of resource provision will affect various members of society. They want to know who will benefit more than others and how this will be seen by those who do not benefit so much. An intervention should find the way that is seen by all to be fair.

To be seen to be unfair is to heighten intergroup tensions and reinforce Dividers. To be seen to be fair is to listen for, and build on, Connectors.

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