Skip to main content

LUP Student Papers

LUND UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES

This Is Why We Can’t Have Nice Things: Performing Justice, Dodging Responsibility — Selective Justice Approaches to Loss and Damage and Cultural Restitution in the European Union

Vassent, Clara Annabelle LU (2025) STVM23 20251
Department of Political Science
Abstract
This thesis examines the asymmetries between the European Union’s approach to
climate justice through the Loss and Damage mechanism and its engagement with
cultural restitution. It aims to determine whether and why the EU applies
principles of justice differently in these two areas and whether the principles
around cultural restitution can inform a more equitable climate justice agenda.
With theories of justice, postcolonialism and norm diffusion and drawing on EU
documents, the thesis observes a selective and strategic application of justice
principles. Cultural restitution, mostly led by member states, is grounded in
acknowledgement, responsibility and reparation. In contrast, Loss and Damage is
mostly framed in terms... (More)
This thesis examines the asymmetries between the European Union’s approach to
climate justice through the Loss and Damage mechanism and its engagement with
cultural restitution. It aims to determine whether and why the EU applies
principles of justice differently in these two areas and whether the principles
around cultural restitution can inform a more equitable climate justice agenda.
With theories of justice, postcolonialism and norm diffusion and drawing on EU
documents, the thesis observes a selective and strategic application of justice
principles. Cultural restitution, mostly led by member states, is grounded in
acknowledgement, responsibility and reparation. In contrast, Loss and Damage is
mostly framed in terms of voluntary solidarity rather than as an obligation to
repair harm. These differences come from avoidance strategies, the persistence of
colonial power structures and the EU’s insistence on maintaining a moral image
over pursuing material reparation. While the principles of cultural restitution are
essential and highly relevant for Loss and Damage, their current performative,
symbolic and controlled implementation limits their transformative potential. For
these principles to inform climate justice in a meaningful way, their application
must shift from performance to structural change. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Vassent, Clara Annabelle LU
supervisor
organization
course
STVM23 20251
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
Loss and Damage, cultural restitution, climate justice, norm diffusion, European Union
language
English
id
9189570
date added to LUP
2025-08-08 11:38:18
date last changed
2025-08-08 11:38:18
@misc{9189570,
  abstract     = {{This thesis examines the asymmetries between the European Union’s approach to 
climate justice through the Loss and Damage mechanism and its engagement with 
cultural restitution. It aims to determine whether and why the EU applies 
principles of justice differently in these two areas and whether the principles 
around cultural restitution can inform a more equitable climate justice agenda. 
With theories of justice, postcolonialism and norm diffusion and drawing on EU 
documents, the thesis observes a selective and strategic application of justice 
principles. Cultural restitution, mostly led by member states, is grounded in 
acknowledgement, responsibility and reparation. In contrast, Loss and Damage is 
mostly framed in terms of voluntary solidarity rather than as an obligation to 
repair harm. These differences come from avoidance strategies, the persistence of 
colonial power structures and the EU’s insistence on maintaining a moral image 
over pursuing material reparation. While the principles of cultural restitution are 
essential and highly relevant for Loss and Damage, their current performative, 
symbolic and controlled implementation limits their transformative potential. For 
these principles to inform climate justice in a meaningful way, their application 
must shift from performance to structural change.}},
  author       = {{Vassent, Clara Annabelle}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{This Is Why We Can’t Have Nice Things: Performing Justice, Dodging Responsibility — Selective Justice Approaches to Loss and Damage and Cultural Restitution in the European Union}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}