Diffusing Human Rights
Reilly, August 2003
3
compromising traditional customs and societies. The strict
enforcement of international human rights, according to this
position, would equate to cultural imperialism.
One of the weaknesses in this debate is the use of
empirical evidence. Globalization
is cited by both sides, in
different ways, to support the contention that change is
occurring, lending new credence to their arguments.
For
cultural relativists, there is fear of and resistance to the
encroachment of Western capitalism, culture, and politics. For
universalists, the explosion of globalizing transactions and
interactions demonstrates the inevitability and necessity of
common interests and standards. That each side finds support in
globalizing
processes
is
not
surprising,
given
that
globalization generates simultaneous effects of fragmentation
and unification (Barber 1992). To move beyond speculation, it
is necessary to examine evidence for signs of convergence on one
hand: support for the notion that universal beliefs are forming
and that global practices increasingly reflect these common
views. On the other hand, we need to recognize where culturally
distinct groups establish barriers that distinguish themselves
from the outside world. Within the group, there may be an
expansive network of communication and shared ideas, but the
transmission of information may be limited to a select few and
closed to those on the outside.
On the one hand, human rights behavior might be expected to
be shaped by fundamental global changes. Among the unifying
forces that could lead to transformational change are systemic
power
distributions,
technological
advances,
and
growing
interdependence. As power distribution fluctuates in the
international system, many argue that states will realign and
leaders will develop new networks of communication. The
expansion and retraction of communication will lead to shared
ideas across a new set of alliances. The breakdown of
traditional structures within the international system — such as
the end of the Cold War — could lead to an explosion of
interaction
Others suggest that the explosive growth of communication
and transportation technologies will stimulate the diffusion of
universal norms across a wide variety of issue areas, including
human rights. There is a growing literature on the effect of
ideas,
information,
and
norms
in
international
politics
(Finnemore
1996;
Goldstein
and
Keohane
1993;
Haas
1990;
Katzenstein 1996; Klotz 1995) that suggests convergence is
occurring in a number of areas. In conjunction with this, the
role
of
the
state
has
been
called
into
question
as
interdependence and new forms of exchange are challenging the
traditional institutions of states. Even conflict in today’s
Convention