Effect of Human Right
HUMAN RIGHTS IN INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
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*CROSS-REFERENCE: civil society-transnational, ethics, genocide, governance-global, human rights-comparative, indigenous peoples' rights, international regimes, international law, intervention-humanitarian, normative theory, rights, rule of law, sovereignty
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Human rights is the soul of politics. The essence of human rights is the idea that all persons possess equal moral worth, that social order exists to preserve the essential humanity of its members, and that therefore the exercise of all forms of political authority is properly bounded by its impact on fundamental human dignity. In contemporary international society, this norm has become the theoretical basis for the legitimacy of all states--albeit poorly realized in practice. The emergence of the principle and practice of human rights is an essential area of international law, a hallmark of global civil society, and a response to the multi-layered challenges of globalization, along with the persistence of state abuse. The politics of human rights also provides a fascinating test of the power of transnational citizen action and international cooperation to sporadically transform state sovereignty. This essay will trace the evolution of this emerging norm, chart some systematic patterns of violation, assess the range of international remedies, and discuss challenges to the concept and its application. Historical development and emerging consensus While most cultures have had some historic standard of humane treatment for their members, the notion of universal and natural rights rises with modernity and increasing interactions across borders. Early arguments by Spanish theologian Bartolome de las Casas to recognize the essential humanity of the Indians of the Americas culminate several centuries later in the trans-Atlantic movement against the African slave trade which secured its abolition. During the 19th century, growing costly collisions among rising European
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*CROSS-REFERENCE: civil society-transnational, ethics, genocide, governance-global, human rights-comparative, indigenous peoples' rights, international regimes, international law, intervention-humanitarian, normative theory, rights, rule of law, sovereignty
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Human rights is the soul of politics. The essence of human rights is the idea that all persons possess equal moral worth, that social order exists to preserve the essential humanity of its members, and that therefore the exercise of all forms of political authority is properly bounded by its impact on fundamental human dignity. In contemporary international society, this norm has become the theoretical basis for the legitimacy of all states--albeit poorly realized in practice. The emergence of the principle and practice of human rights is an essential area of international law, a hallmark of global civil society, and a response to the multi-layered challenges of globalization, along with the persistence of state abuse. The politics of human rights also provides a fascinating test of the power of transnational citizen action and international cooperation to sporadically transform state sovereignty. This essay will trace the evolution of this emerging norm, chart some systematic patterns of violation, assess the range of international remedies, and discuss challenges to the concept and its application. Historical development and emerging consensus While most cultures have had some historic standard of humane treatment for their members, the notion of universal and natural rights rises with modernity and increasing interactions across borders. Early arguments by Spanish theologian Bartolome de las Casas to recognize the essential humanity of the Indians of the Americas culminate several centuries later in the trans-Atlantic movement against the African slave trade which secured its abolition. During the 19th century, growing costly collisions among rising European