Social Movements,

Restorative Justice
and Influence on
Policymaking

Diego Galego (diego.galego@kuleuven.be)

KU Leuven Public Governance Institute
HEC-ULiège Smart City Institute
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1300-7709
Is Restorative Justice a Social Movement?

“Clearly, restorative justice has become a social

movement that impacts the way we
understand and respond to crime and conflict
in diverse communities throughout the world.”
(Umbreit et al., 2005, p.254)

“The restorative justice movement is a global

social movement with huge internal diversity.”
(Johnstone and Van Ness, 2007, p.5).
 What is a Social
https://abcnews.go.com/International/yellow-vest-protests-france-draw-fewer-demonstrators-violence/story?id=59827051
Movement?
https://theconversation.com/spain-at-the-crossroads-should-it-opt-for-a-bailout-9995

“are defined as networks of

informal interactions between a
plurality of individuals, groups
and/or organizations, engaged in
https://jacobin.com/2021/09/occupy-wall-street-ten-year-anniversary-99-percent-new-york

political or cultural conflicts, on

https://www.zureli.com/climate-justice-human-rights-movements-must-go-hand-hand/
the basis of shared collective
identities.” (Diani, 1992, p.1).

https://www.bbc.com/news/newsbeat-53812576 https://www.tronviggroup.com/success-of-recent-social-movements/
What is Influence?
• It can be social,
interpersonal,
informational, and
normative.
• It is a direct or indirect
pressure exerted on a
person or group to affect
others’ attitudes, https://www.fundacaotelefonicavivo.org.br/noticias/martin-luther-king-juventude/

behaviour, thoughts or
opinion (APA - American
Psychological Association).

https://www.nationthailand.com/perspective/30377080 https://www.cosmopolitan.com/food-cocktails/a10011802/mcdonalds-pride-fry-boxes/
 Public Policy Process
1. Problem Recognition

2. Alternatives and Solutions

3. Deliberation to the Proposed Solution

4. Putting Solution into Effect

5. Monitoring Outcomes

https://www.online.auckland.ac.nz/2022/04/11/perspectives-in-public-policy-the-policy-cycle/ https://moodle.balcanicaucaso.org/mod/book/tool/print/index.php?id=53&chapterid=117
Movement-Policy Influence Mechanism
Level of Governance
- International
- National
- Subnational
- Local

Social Movement Actions to influence

Outcomes
Goal(s) (Direct and/or Indirect)

Feedback

Policy Process
- Agenda-setting
- Formulation
- Decision-making
- Implementation
- Evaluation

Source: Galego (2022), p.17

 Direct Strategies of Influence
Social Movement Policymaking

https://represent.us/action/is-lobbying-good-or-bad/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monday_demonstrations_in_East_Germany https://www.radarr.com/blog/lastselfie-wwfs-brilliant-snapchat-campaign/

 Indirect Strategies of Influence
Social Movement Intermediator Policymaking

https://asiapacific.unwomen.org/en/focus-areas/governance/political-participation-of-women

https://www.bahmni.org/bahmni-coalition https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna43596216

https://caritasnorte2.wordpress.com/2012/08/21/cefac-realiza-i-escola-regional-de-formacao-para-jovens-sem-terra / https://www.hurstpublishers.com/the-revolution-will-be-twitterised-social-media-and-the-arab-revolution/
LGBTQ+ Movement in Brazil

• Goal: Fight Discrimination

• Actions: Mass
mobilization, public and
political support, legal
case, Supreme Court https://observatoriomorteseviolenciaslgbtibrasil.org/ https://www.jota.info/stf/do-supremo/criminalizacao-da-homofobia-integra-celso-20022019

decisions, lawyers, reports

of violence …
• Outcome: Criminalisation
of LGBTphobia in 2019
https://observatoriog.bol.uol.com.br/noticias/advogados-lgbts-fazem-historia-ao-defenderem-criminalizacao-da-lgbtfobia-no-stf https://www.cartacapital.com.br/blogs/saudelgbt/por-que-o-tema-da-24a-parada-do-orgulho-lgbt-de-sao-paulo-deve-ser-hiv-aids/
Autism Packing Therapy in France
https://vaincrelautisme.org/association

• Goal: Overcome Autism

and the packing therapy
• Actions: Lobbying by
associations, parents'
association opposition to
psychiatrists, online
forums (Yahoo),
• Outcome: Prohibition of https://www.dailymotion.com/video/xpa9d7

Packing therapy in 2016

https://www.autisme-france.fr/
Marijuana Movement in Texas, US
• Goal: Decriminalize
Marijuana for medical and
recreational purposes
• Actions: Legislative
process, lobbyist hiring,
https://www.facebook.com/texasmedicalfreedom/ https://www.texastribune.org/2018/06/27/marijuana-democrats-young-adults-texas-poll/

message framing,
grassroots support,
educational training, …
• Outcome: Bill failed
approval in the state
Congress in 2015
Climate Change – World Wide Fund for
Nature (WWF)
https://www.radarr.com/blog/lastselfie-wwfs-brilliant-snapchat-campaign/ https://adaddictive.com/wwf-3/ https://www.wwf.or.th/?376895/WWF-Campaign-Targets-Wild-Meat-Consumption-to-Protect-Public-Health-and-Nature-in-Laos-Viet-Nam-Cambodia

https://www.adsoftheworld.com/campaigns/lungs-30636458-3515-4df1-b3b4-82c94f264a77
Children at Risk – Spain, 2013

https://www.anar.org/
Innocence in Danger – Germany, 2016

https://innocenceindanger.de/
https://innocenceindanger.de/
Same-Sex Marriage – Australia, 2011

https://www.getup.org.au/
 Social Movement vs Restorative Justice
Dimensions Social Movement Restorative Justice
Origin Informal networks Professional networks
Political regime Democracy/Non-democracy Democracy
Goal(s) Challenge the oppressive socio-political system Reform the punitive criminal justice system

Target Institutions Political, social, and cultural structures Criminal justice structure and any place where violence may
occur (e.g., schools, cities, workplaces,…)
Time Varies according to target and outcome Actively advocate for a non-punitive response to a
crime/violence/injustice/harm
Contextual Combination of resources, mobilization, “time”, and necessity Preventive actions against crimes/harm/injustice seeking a
Conditions restorative process

Strategies Collective action, Mobilization, Political Opportunity … Precise initiatives according to the case in hand to facilitate a
safe space for dialogue on an equal basis of consideration
between victims, offenders and other stakeholders
Types of Actions Direct, Indirect, Joint Direct or Indirect
Outcome Influence policy change and political decisions Influence the justice system and change societal behaviour
Moving Forward
Short-term
Actions Outcomes
Create and promote campaigns Generate awareness about the existence of RJ in different levels and
countries in Europe
Organize conference panels, seminars, and workshops with other Multidisciplinary dialogue/Collaboration
disciplinary areas
Create a Helpline (Phone, email, online form…) First, provide fast guidance on how to act in cases of injustice
(violence, abuse, …). Second, generate data on these issues by
country, city, gender, ….

Long-term
Actions
Training of Volunteers
Measuring/monitoring platform RJ actions, initiatives, and cases
Educational outreach to politicians, lawyers, and social workers
Integration of RJ in the Curriculum of Law Studies, Political Science,
and Social Movement, …
Outcomes
Speak the same language when dealing with cases of injustice with a
RJ approach
Providing evidence of what the issues addressed and how RJ can be a
serious alternative to the criminal justice system. Validation of
actions.
Facilitating an alternative perspective to the system
Provide broader training than the Criminal Code as the unique
solution when any violence occurs. Consequently, changing the
system from punitive to restorative justice.
 3 C’s - CONCLUSION
Inspirations to …
Be creative to promote broader dialogues

https://www.guiadasartes.com.br/banksy/biografia

Be courageous to connect people to restore just relations

https://www.ebiografia.com/banksy/

Be capable of spreading impactful messages

https://www.julienslive.com/lot-details/index/catalog/160/lot/68098/BANKSY-I-Remember-When-All-This-Was-Trees
Thank You!
Gracias!
Eskerrik Asko!
References
• Diani, Mario. 1992. “The Concept of Social Movement.” The Sociological Review,
1–25.

• Galego, Diego. 2022. Queering Public Policy: The Criminalisation of LGBTphobia in

Brazil. Leuven: KU Leuven Public Governance Institute. http://shorturl.at/ghnz6

• Johnstone, Gerry, and Daniel W. Van Ness. 2006. “The Meaning of Restorative
Justice.” In Handbook of Restorative Justice, 5–23. Abringdon, Oxon: Routledge.
https://doi.org/10.4324/9781843926191-8

• Umbreit, Mark S., Betty Vos, Robert B. Coates, and Elizabeth Lightfoot. 2005.
“Restorative Justice in the Twenty-First Century: A Social Movement Full of
Opportunities and Pitfalls.” Marquette Law Review 89: 251–304.