Blue justice through and beyond equity and participation: a critical reading of capability-based recognitional justice in Poland’s marine spatial planning

While blue justice has gained traction, recognition and capability, which are necessary conditions for procedural and distributive justice, remain under-developed. We develop a four-dimensional blue justice framework that builds on recognition and capabilities to critically examine and advance justice in Poland’s marine spatial planning (MSP). We find that misrecognition of differential identities and capacities scripted powerless stakeholders out of participation and reduced possibilities for fair distribution. Conversely, MSP regulation augmented the rights of powerful actors through granting de jure “objecting” rights to some, inviting only strategic sectors to agenda-setting fora and, limiting MSP communication to meeting legal requirements. Several stakeholders also see defence and wind energy as key winners of MSP. While society will benefit from national security and energy sufficiency, especially given Russia’s increased weaponization of energy, many believe that financial profits from wind energy will accrue to developers. We offer governmental and planning measures to enhance capabilities.

尽管蓝色正义（Blue Justice）已获得一定发展，但作为程序正义与分配正义必要前提的认可度与能力建设仍处于欠发达状态。我们构建了一套以认可度与能力为基础的四维蓝色正义框架，用以批判性审视并推进波兰海洋空间规划（Marine Spatial Planning, MSP）领域的正义议题。研究发现，对差异化身份与能力的认知偏差，致使弱势利益相关方被排除在参与进程之外，同时压缩了公平分配的实现空间。与之相对，海洋空间规划的相关规制却通过赋予部分主体法定“异议权”、仅邀请战略产业参与议程制定论坛、将规划沟通局限于满足法定合规要求等方式，实则强化了强势行动者的权利。不少利益相关方亦认为，国防与风电产业是海洋空间规划的核心获益群体。尽管鉴于俄罗斯日益将能源武器化的背景，全社会可从能源安全与能源自给中获益，但多数人认为风电项目的经济收益将流向开发商。我们提出了若干政府与规划层面的优化举措，以提升相关能力建设。