Alternative Dispute Resolution and Social Inequality
Informal justice mechanisms in their current form often fall short of the ideal of equitable, impartial justice for all.
Drawing on original survey and focus group data from eastern Uttar Pradesh, we document systematic perceptions of bias in local arbitration processes. Lower caste, female, and poorer disputants are seen as disadvantaged, while arbitrators from dominant groups often downplay such concerns. Economic status, caste identity, and gender norms jointly shape outcomes. While these forums provide accessible justice where formal courts are absent, they often reproduce existing social hierarchies. The findings caution against uncritical promotion of community-based justice and point to the need for institutional safeguards to ensure fairness, especially for historically marginalized groups.
Working Paper 1520
Additional Details
- Governance and public sector management
- India
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