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Nickolai Levichev’s speech at Conference "Justice as Value, Idea and Public Policy in the Modern World and Russia" 03 декабря 2014 Nickolai Levichev, Vice-Chairman of the State Duma, Chairman of the Party A JUST RUSSIA Chamber of Deputies spoke at All-Russian Scientific and Practical Conference "Justice as value, idea and public policy in the modern world and Russia". Dear colleagues and friends, I am given an honorary right to open the Conference. I am glad to see such a representative and intellectual audience here in this hall. I’d like to thank all the present for their interest to the subject of the Conference. Today the discussion of the problems of justice gathered together scientists from five academic institutes: the Institute of Sociology, the Institute of Economics, the Institute of Market Problems, the Institute of Philosophy, the Institute of the USA and Canada Studies, the Moscow and Saint-Petersburg Universities and other representatives of the Russian Association of Political Sciences and representatives of public associations. The concept of justice is multi-sided and multi-dimensional. It is part of an overall picture of the world and a moral ideal for philosophers, it is logic of acquisition and distribution of social wealth for economists, and it is a conceptual framework of the fundamentals of law for lawyers. For me, as a politician, the actuality of the problem of justice is evident. There are going on global geopolitical processes comparable (in their essence) with the historical perturbations of the beginning of the XXth century. The contradictions between countries and inside some of them are becoming more and more unpredictable and confrontational. At present we can hear the demands for ‘doing by justice’ not only from the international tribunes but also in our Moscow streets. As you know, there have just been held meetings in Moscow in defense of our right to receive medical aid. I think abuse of the principles of social justice is at the root of all contemporary conflicts. Globalization is accompanied by an extremely unjust distribution of benefits and risks. Double standards "are ruling the day". The issue constantly emerging at numerous UN conferences on sustainable development is that wealthy countries consume as many natural resources as they have got accustomed to but the poor ones – as many as they are allowed. The world history gives plenty of proofs that a demeaned feeling of justice may give birth to monsters. Fights for justice have always been not only oral; people have shed for justice as much blood as they have for the land and gold. The feeling of injustice in public consciousness leads to decomposition of society, no matter which epoch it belongs to. I would like to quote Immanuel Kant here: "If justice goes, there is no longer any value in human beings’ living on the earth." After all the tragedies of the previous century, it would be tempting to say that we are at the edge of finding a universal model of the society of justice for the current XXIst century. But it is not like that. The politicians face a more specified task. It is necessary that the requirements for the economic, political and social institutes be clearly articulated so that they would bring us closer to the principles of justice which have already demonstrated their effectiveness. Some reports at our conference will be devoted to discussion of the problems of justice in the Russian public idea. As you know, Russia will celebrate the 150th anniversary of its judicial reform. It is on 03 December that Alexander II signed several decrees the linchpin of which is the idea expressed in Latin: "Law is the art of kindness and justice." The Decree on Judicial Statute says: "To establish in Russia a fast equal justice that will be merciful to all. Lift the judicial authority, give it an appropriate independence, and reinforce (in general) among the people respect for the law without which public prosperity is impossible". Unfortunately, up to now, visions of justice in Russia have little in common with our everyday life. What is due and what is real constantly fail to coincide. Denial of the institutional framework and legal guarantees adopted before became a landslide in the 90s.. Income difference between the richest and the poorest became astronomical. The man acquired his price but extremely rapidly lost his value in the result of the market reforms. Just recently, an ordinary man could hear unfounded, sweeping accusations of dependence. Justice was called almost a baneful superstition connected with paternalism threatening the economic efficiency. Social inequality is still the main disaster in Russia. The majority of the country’s wealth is arrogated by its minority that looks only about their own interests. The man’s social standing and his position in society are determined not by his serving the country but by availability of access to power and resources. I must say that the state social programs of the 2000s made poverty retreat a little. But we still fail to cope completely with the system causes for social inequality which remains the main problem threatening the security of our society. It is highly important for the current political agenda that the system understanding of justice open a prospect for an efficient social design. Our party constantly emphasizes the fact that social political changes must be perceived as the active. A fair economic and social policy creates actives for progressive development of society. Our Government does not have such understanding yet. Social policy is perceived as an expendable value that does not bring any profit. I find such an approach fundamentally wrong, the one which deprives our country of any prospects. Dear colleagues, Now it is also important for all of us that achievement of social justice possess a powerful consolidating potential. We will not cope with the political and economic challenges our country is facing without a national consent. The very fact of a scientific discussion about justice is extremely important. Of course, today we will hardly find the answers to all the challenges Russia has been facing. But correct outlining of the problem and finding of the most actual and productive discourse of justice is already a step forward. Moreover, I am totally convinced that our meeting will contribute to it. Let your work be fruitful and successful.
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