The role of interpersonal communication in instilling a sense of social justice: Beirut August 4, 2020, explosion

ABSTRACT

The August 4, 2020, Beirut Port explosion killed over 200 people and left countless Lebanese injured and traumatized. To this date, the reasons behind the explosion remain unknown and the burden of this unjust act weighs heavily upon all Lebanese. Countless journalistic reports attest to the failure of official communication channels and the lack of meaningful action. None, however, delve into the role that interpersonal communication plays in instilling a sense of justice. This paper therefore investigates how interpersonal communication, specifically through people’s participation in communal communicative initiatives, may subvert the unjust official discourse and introduce a positive change in individual and communal lives. It posits that interpersonal communication may create a sense of justice not just between individuals in distinct interactions but at a societal level. It proposes basic tenants defining an interpersonally situated sense of justice and expands the significance of interpersonal communication in social justice studies providing it with a plausible structure.

KEYWORDS:

• Beirut port explosion
• interpersonal communication
• social justice
• communal communicative action
• civic engagement

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).