Reflective Dialogue 18: Human Rights in a Changing World
In this chapter of Global Issues, the authors discuss the different dimensions of human rights and how the Universal Declaration of Human Rights articulates these dimensions. Human rights, the authors note, historically, have not been much of a concern for countries to protect or to advocate for globally. The main reason for this is because countries were more focused on forming alliances for the sake of countering potential external threats; as result, it was of little importance to them whether a prospective ally was a human rights violator. It wasn’t until after World War II that states genuinely considered the importance of human rights (1948: this was when Universal Declaration of Human Rights was approved) and started calling for the global protection of them. As evidence, the authors discuss the historical origins of human rights, the content of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, globalization’s effects on the UDHR, the conflict between a universal and relative perspective on human rights, and how human rights are implemented. The author gives an overview of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and how certain rights fall into certain categories. There are two categories of rights according to the UN: negative rights (civil and political rights) and positive rights (social and economic rights/solidarity rights). Noninterference by the government into the lives of its citizens is what characterize a negative right; the act of protesting and not being harassed by government officials would be an example of a negative right. A positive right, on the other hand, requires the government to provide certain goods or services for its citizens (welfare programs, education, healthcare, ect.) in order to “establish an acceptable standard of living, or minimal level of equality, for all of its citizens.” The author does not provide any real world examples of positive rights and how they “establish an acceptable standard of living…for all its citizens.” He does not explain the implications that come with such rights (such as high taxes and lower economic growth). The recognition of the importance of human rights globally is a welcome historical development. Tolerance for brutality committed by governments has waned because of this new found emphasis on human rights and because globalization has made it possible for the public to know about human rights violations from around the world (via the internet and NGOs). The internet, a key tool in a globalized world, is central to the protection of human rights because it provides a platform for abuses to be recorded/posted and an opportunity for others to coordinate against such right’s violations. This praise comes with some qualification, however. The proliferation of rights and what people think constitutes as a right is a problem and will cause social strife down the road if not adequately …show more content…
These dimensions either fall into two categories known as positive and negative rights. Positive rights are when citizens are entitled to a good. Negative rights are based on noninterference from the government into the lives of its citizens. Even though the world has emphasized human rights than ever before, and that’s a good thing, the proliferation of rights that’s come with it, is not. Positive rights are the source of this proliferation and will cause social strife down the
In this chapter of Global Issues, the authors discuss the different dimensions of human rights and how the Universal Declaration of Human Rights articulates these dimensions. Human rights, the authors note, historically, have not been much of a concern for countries to protect or to advocate for globally. The main reason for this is because countries were more focused on forming alliances for the sake of countering potential external threats; as result, it was of little importance to them whether a prospective ally was a human rights violator. It wasn’t until after World War II that states genuinely considered the importance of human rights (1948: this was when Universal Declaration of Human Rights was approved) and started calling for the global protection of them. As evidence, the authors discuss the historical origins of human rights, the content of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, globalization’s effects on the UDHR, the conflict between a universal and relative perspective on human rights, and how human rights are implemented. The author gives an overview of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and how certain rights fall into certain categories. There are two categories of rights according to the UN: negative rights (civil and political rights) and positive rights (social and economic rights/solidarity rights). Noninterference by the government into the lives of its citizens is what characterize a negative right; the act of protesting and not being harassed by government officials would be an example of a negative right. A positive right, on the other hand, requires the government to provide certain goods or services for its citizens (welfare programs, education, healthcare, ect.) in order to “establish an acceptable standard of living, or minimal level of equality, for all of its citizens.” The author does not provide any real world examples of positive rights and how they “establish an acceptable standard of living…for all its citizens.” He does not explain the implications that come with such rights (such as high taxes and lower economic growth). The recognition of the importance of human rights globally is a welcome historical development. Tolerance for brutality committed by governments has waned because of this new found emphasis on human rights and because globalization has made it possible for the public to know about human rights violations from around the world (via the internet and NGOs). The internet, a key tool in a globalized world, is central to the protection of human rights because it provides a platform for abuses to be recorded/posted and an opportunity for others to coordinate against such right’s violations. This praise comes with some qualification, however. The proliferation of rights and what people think constitutes as a right is a problem and will cause social strife down the road if not adequately …show more content…
These dimensions either fall into two categories known as positive and negative rights. Positive rights are when citizens are entitled to a good. Negative rights are based on noninterference from the government into the lives of its citizens. Even though the world has emphasized human rights than ever before, and that’s a good thing, the proliferation of rights that’s come with it, is not. Positive rights are the source of this proliferation and will cause social strife down the