What future for human rights in a non-western world?

Editor(s): Simon Bennett, Éadaoin O’Brien
ISBN: 9780957194199
Publisher: Institute of Commonwealth Studies, Human Rights Consortium
Published: 2012
Format: Paperback
Subject Areas: Human Rights
Price: £25.00

Description

The countries of the global north and west that have enjoyed hegemonic preponderance in international affairs over the last two centuries are seeing their relative influence on the world stage decline in favour of rising powers of other regions. As the ability of the global north and west to project normative standards with regards to social organisation, international relations and the role of the state is waning, what emerging norms might guide future trajectories for global society? As human rights is a highly politicised and contentious area of discourse and practice, what future might there be for human rights in a non-western world?

The London Debates 2011 workshop sought to bring together established academics and early career researchers from a variety of disciplines to reflect upon possible futures for world order and the implications for human rights. In this edited volume, nuanced analysis covers the ongoing debate on the universality of human rights, the outlook for human rights in an Islamic context, the role of civil society in the future of human rights, and human rights in China.

Contents

Contents

Abbreviations v

Inaugural address ix

Widney Brown

1. What future for human rights in a non-western world? 1

Simon Bennett

I. Contested universalities 19

2. Challenges to liberal human rights 21

Matthias Katzer

3. Closing the legitimacy gap on the journey towards a universality of human rights 37

Ryan Hill

II. Future world orders, Islam and human rights 49

4. Transcending universalism? Trajectories for human rights in a post-western world 51

Nora Fisher Onar

5. Alternative discourse on human rights: concepts of duties versus rights in the Islamic discourse 63

Saira Bano Orakzai

6. Prospects for a regional human rights regime in the Middle East 77

Mishana Hosseinioun

III. Civil society and global rights 89

7. Reproducing rights: rebellious appropriation of rights discourse by social movements 91