---
title: "Rawls's Difference Principle: Justice as Fairness"
description: "Rawls's Difference Principle allows inequalities that benefit the least advantaged, making it crucial for ethics in policy and governance discussions."
url: "https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/glossary/rawls-difference-principle"
---

[New](https://modeldiplomat.com/)

#

Model Diplomat Research Team · Last reviewed June 22, 2026

TL;DR

- Rawls's Difference Principle permits social and economic inequalities only when they work to the greatest benefit of the least-advantaged members of society.
- How does the Difference Principle differ from utilitarianism?
- Why would rational parties choose the Difference Principle behind the veil of ignorance?
- Where does the Difference Principle rank in Rawls's two principles of justice?

[Civil Service & Diplomatic Exams](https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/civil-services/glossary)Updated June 22, 2026

Rawls's Difference Principle permits social and economic inequalities only when they work to the greatest benefit of the least-advantaged members of society.

Go beyond the definition

## Research Rawls's Difference Principle like a delegate

Model Diplomat's AI drafts position papers, speeches, and country research with real sources — built for MUN and politics students.

## Research it like a delegate

Research on modeldiplomat.com

## Ask a follow-up about Rawls's Difference Principle

Open a cited briefing in Model Diplomat search — timelines, positions, and sources you can use in committee or exam answers.

[Start research on Rawls's Difference Principle](https://modeldiplomat.com/search?q=Explain%20Rawls%27s%20Difference%20Principle%20%E2%80%94%20key%20dates%2C%20actors%2C%20positions%2C%20and%20sources)

Example

In 2013 India's Union Public Service Commission added Rawls to the General Studies Paper IV syllabus, and aspirants now invoke his Difference Principle to justify reservation and targeted-subsidy policy in ethics case studies.

Keep learning

## Go deeper than the definition

[Explore all Civil Service & Diplomatic Exams lessons](https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/civil-services)[Test yourself with a quiz](https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/glossary/quiz/civil-services)

## Take Rawls's Difference Principle beyond the glossary

Ask the AI research engine built for diplomacy — get briefings, position papers, and speeches with sources you can cite in committee.