The Spiral of Injustice

The Spiral of Injustice is a framework that helps us understand how bias, discrimination, and violence develop over time. Rather than seeing injustice as a single event, the Spiral shows it as a downward-moving sequence, with each stage reinforcing the next:

Language – The words we use shape how we see others. Derogatory labels, stereotypes, and dehumanizing rhetoric can normalize prejudice and lay the groundwork for discrimination.

Avoidance – Social withdrawal and exclusion signal early recognition of bias. Avoidance can include segregation, ignoring the needs of others, or marginalizing certain groups.

Discrimination – Bias becomes codified through policies, practices, or systemic barriers that limit rights, opportunities, or resources for targeted groups.

Violence – Prejudice escalates into direct harm. Physical attacks, riots, and organized aggression can emerge when bias and discrimination go unchecked.

Elimination – The final stage occurs when a society seeks to destroy a group through mass killing, forced removal, or other forms of eradication.

The Spiral emphasizes that prejudice is learned, not inherent, and highlights how historical events like the Holocaust, Armenian genocide, and Japanese incarceration during World War II reflect predictable patterns of injustice. By understanding the Spiral, we can recognize early warning signs, examine contemporary human rights challenges, and consider how communities can intervene to uphold human dignity.