Summary Essentials of International Relations by Mingst and McKibben Chapter 10
Religious, philosophical and historical foundations.
Religious groups assert dignity of individuals and responsibility to fellow man. But who
protects and enforces this and are these rights for all or only select few? This is unclear.
Liberal political theorist assert individual rights that the state cannot touch. John locke say
natural rights predate all law, state is to protect these. Several historical documents capture
these rights. Freedom of speech, religion, press are among these human rights that are
protected in Magna Carta, US bill of rights and more.
Radical tradition says that individuals should receive social and economic rights from
governments. Political and civil rights meaningless when these rights are absent, example:
housing, education and decent work. Influenced by Karl Marx and other socialists.
What is included in human rights reconceptualized. Group rights for marginalized people
and collective rights developing last 2 centuries. The first is protection of indigenous,
disabled and other marginalized groups. The second is the right to develop, clean
environment and right to live in democracy.
Four major debates emerge from human right foundations.
- Are issues in discussion really human rights, fundamental to every person, necessary
to live?
- If human rights are universal, are they applicable to all people without exception or
maybe dependent on culture: cultural relativism.
- Should some rights be prioritized over others? Socialists say economic and social
rights above all. To many human rights are linked, all interdependent.
- Who has the right/ responsibility when human rights are violated? When state is
abuser who punishes the state and does sovereignty trumps protection of human
rights?
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Antislavery movement response from these questions, Final act congress of Vienna 1815
signed and states that slavery was in contrast to principles of humanity. Still it wasn’t illegal,
freedom was at that point not inalienable, fundamental to every person. Rights were
intertwined as slaves were property but also human beings. Eventually civil rights triumphed
but still struggle in racism. 2014 IS claims putting woman in sexual slavery is according to
Koran, Anti-Slavery International identifies notions as these.
Human rights s emerging international responsibility
International humanitarian law emerges from Geneva conventions about: Wounded in
armed forces, wounded and sick of shipwrecks, protections of POW and protection of
civilians during war time. Form basis of war crime laws.
1919 Minorities Treaty: states should protect all equally, regardless of any differences.
UN has chapter dedicated to human rights protection thanks to civil movements and such.
, International bill of rights consists of 3 documents: Declaration of Human rights, made
legally binding in: International covenant on Civil and Political rights and International
covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural rights. After that more conventions followed on
more human rights issues: Table 10.1
States as protectors of human rights
US and EU value freedom of speech, religion and such, try to internationalize these
principles: seen in constitutions Iraq and Afghanistan. EU gives membership if progress is
made towards granting these civil and political liberties. They do this because sharing
certain values promotes peace and trade. They also think it important to protect individuals
from bad governments and project desired values. So self interest and liberal explanation
for behavior.
State tactics to protect human rights
If another state’s is mistreating human rights states will resort to tying economic or security
benefits to improvement in human right policies. They can also tie foreign/military aid to a
state’s human rights policies.
Punishing states through sanctions is another tactic to persuade states in changing there
human rights policies. Trump barred 11 companies from buying US products from alleged
involvement of Uighur situation. A heavier tactic is using force against a state that is abusing
human rights, when a state is killing civilians like in 1979 Uganda for example.
States as abusers of human rights
Autocratic states more likely to abuse political and civil rights while less developed states
more likely to abuse economic and social rights may be because unable or unwilling. State
security prevails individual rights, even acknowledge by Covenant on civil and political
rights. Conventions of torture big clash between human rights and protection of national
security. Freedom from torture is human right but what torture is, is still question.
Economic conditions, cultural and history are all factors that influence a states human rights
record. Poor states, ethical divided and states with long violent history are more likely to
have poor human rights standards.
Role of IGO’s and NGO’s
IGO’s in action
First, they set the human right standards.
Second IGO’s monitor states behavior: compiling reports from neutral observations and
other states. Special bodies to examine, advise and report on human rights in given country.
UPR in 2004 where every states participate to evaluate own human rights, other states
involved.
Third, Improve states compliance with human rights norms. Fair election is very important
and UN assisted with electoral process in over 100 countries. Can also impose economic
