Abstract

To examine the link between social justice and our European identity, the paper proceeds in three stages. First, I argue that social justice is not only concerned with the distributive aims and effects of contract law but also the cultural aspects of law, by drawing an analogy between a contested economic and cultural dichotomy. Secondly, the paper explains how the idea of European identity is connected to a cultural identity and is deeply rooted in social justice. Finally, the paper examines the idea that both dimensions of social justice concern European contract law. A parallel between the construction of European contract law and the identification process for European citizens can be drawn; the two go hand in hand.