Churchill's Transformational Strategy

In his book Human Rights and Global Diversity, Robert Paul Churchill aims to identify and emphasize the universality of human rights, arguing that “human beings everywhere have the same human right” (Churchill xi). Churchill proposes that cross-cultural negotiations must be implemented to bridge the gap between cultural differences and gain international consensus of The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). With respect to valuing the UDHR and promoting universal human rights regardless of culture, the best method of cross-cultural negotiation is the transformational strategy. This method would be the most successful because its broad use of human rights language allows for worldwide communication and participation, thus eliminating
The terms defective and incomplete refer to the limitations and extension of rights to in-groups and out-groups. The transformational strategy functions with the notion that this strategy can transform ideas about rights using discourse ethics or a dialectic, focusing on participation, and consensus through rationalization and reasoning. By using a transformational strategy, the dialogic process in which it operates promote change within a country rather than asserting a Western view on said nations, and encouraging unimpeded dialogue. While this strategy seems idealistic (Churchill 96), it is not impossible. By focusing on consensus through reasoning the rights language, regardless of culture, becomes less likely to get dislodged later because it is rooted in the fundamentals of argumentative claims. The transformational strategy can furthermore be successful due to the promotion of an international public forum in which “the society or group justifies the protection of members against standard threats that exemplify fundamental dangers to humans” (Churchill 93). This dialogic process is imperative to the transformational strategy and to achieving a “progressive consensus
Take for example Article 18 in the UDHR, which states the right to freedom of thought and religion, as well as the freedom to change religion or belief regardless of setting. In the Muslim culture, under Shari’a law, apostasy is considered illegal and is punishable by death (Churchill 111). According to the transformational strategy, the violation of this right is considered a defective view because not only are those who renounce their faith punishable by law, but are also considered unequal in their citizenship with the practicing Muslims. The goal of transformation strategy is to use effective communication tools to produce the same results, protection of universal rights, in all cultures. In order to contest this violation of freedom of belief and religion, justifications for these rights need to be understood within their culture, regardless of the manner in which it is described. It is important to this strategy that everyone involved recognize the “knowledge of care, neglect, and abuse” (Churchill 94) that can be found in the roots of any culture globally. In this scenario there would need to be an international forum requiring participation and representation of all nations under the UN.