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DIFFUSING HUMAN RIGHTS: The Nexus of Domestic and International Influences
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| | Unformatted Document Text:
Diffusing Human Rights
Reilly, August 2003
2
Introduction: Cultural Relativism versus Universal Human RightsIn a world characterized by the ever increasing interpenetration of states, markets, information, and ideas across borders, attacks on the rights of human beings — wherever they are located — take on greater urgency. What happens in the external environment of a state today has more of an
influence on the
internal environment than ever before. The ripple effects of human rights atrocities go far beyond the losses in trade, potential for diffusion of violence, and refugee movements. And the awareness of world events among leaders and publics alike is heightened as a result of new channels of communication and improvements to transportation. It is difficult, in today’s world, to remain ignorant or unaffected by global events.
In discussions about how to improve the human rights
practices around the world, there is a debate about the extent to which we can expect that a universal notion of human rights will emerge. This debate mirrors the more general issue of whether world politics have been transformed by recent advances in transportation and communications technology. While some would argue that theories of international politics in a globalized world must incorporate learning effects and non-state actors (see, for example, Haas 1958; Nye 1987), others are not as quick to concede that world civic politics have undermined the authority of states (Waltz 1979; Mearsheimer 2001). We cannot interpret the effect of forms of interpenetration and their
importance,
however,
until
we
determine
how
these
processes
work
in
conjunction
with
geography,
history,
institutional structures, domestic environments, and decision making processes to bring about change. To analyze the effect of globalization on issue areas such as human rights practices, we need to examine the interplay of domestic and international dynamics.
The epitome of this interplay in the human rights realm is
the debate involving universalizing versus culturally relative rights.
i
Intellectuals and policymakers in the Western world
have made the case that fundamental personal rights should be protected globally. The evolution of a notion of international human
rights
has
been
occurring
since
the
European
Enlightenment,
and
has
been
codified
in
the
Universal
Declaration of Human Rights. Now, according to proponents of a universalizing
conception
of
human
rights,
oversight
and
enforcement mechanisms need to be developed and strengthened. On the other side of the argument, some have claimed that cultural and religious maxims involving the just use of authority
are
sufficient
to
protect
individuals
without
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Diffusing Human Rights
Reilly, August 2003
2
Introduction: Cultural Relativism versus Universal Human Rights
In a world characterized by the ever increasing interpenetration
of states, markets, information, and ideas across borders,
attacks on the rights of human beings — wherever they are
located — take on greater urgency. What happens in the external
environment of a state today has more of an
influence on the
internal environment than ever before. The ripple effects of
human rights atrocities go far beyond the losses in trade,
potential for diffusion of violence, and refugee movements. And
the awareness of world events among leaders and publics alike is
heightened as a result of new channels of communication and
improvements to transportation. It is difficult, in today’s
world, to remain ignorant or unaffected by global events.
In discussions about how to improve the human rights
practices around the world, there is a debate about the extent
to which we can expect that a universal notion of human rights
will emerge. This debate mirrors the more general issue of
whether world politics have been transformed by recent advances
in transportation and communications technology. While some
would argue that theories of international politics in a
globalized world must incorporate learning effects and non-state
actors (see, for example, Haas 1958; Nye 1987), others are not
as quick to concede that world civic politics have undermined
the authority of states (Waltz 1979; Mearsheimer 2001). We
cannot interpret the effect of forms of interpenetration and
their
importance,
however,
until
we
determine
how
these
processes
work
in
conjunction
with
geography,
history,
institutional structures, domestic environments, and decision
making processes to bring about change. To analyze the effect
of globalization on issue areas such as human rights practices,
we need to examine the interplay of domestic and international
dynamics.
The epitome of this interplay in the human rights realm is
the debate involving universalizing versus culturally relative
rights.
i
Intellectuals and policymakers in the Western world
have made the case that fundamental personal rights should be
protected globally. The evolution of a notion of international
human
rights
has
been
occurring
since
the
European
Enlightenment,
and
has
been
codified
in
the
Universal
Declaration of Human Rights. Now, according to proponents of a
universalizing
conception
of
human
rights,
oversight
and
enforcement mechanisms need to be developed and strengthened.
On the other side of the argument, some have claimed that
cultural and religious maxims involving the just use of
authority
are
sufficient
to
protect
individuals
without
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