The Politics of Human Rights

A set of vocabulary flashcards based on the key concepts from the chapter 'The Politics of Human Rights' by Michael Goodhart.

Why are human rights political rather than philosophically settled?

Human rights are social constructions shaped by power dynamics and historical context; their definitions are contested through political struggle rather than being fixed or universally agreed-upon truths.

The Role of Controversy, Institutionalization, and Backlash

Controversy ensures that the meaning of rights remains fluid, institutionalization often results in rights becoming more conservative as they enter legal systems, and backlash occurs when these rights threaten existing power structures.

Political Analysis of treaties and compliance

This approach views international treaties as products of political compromise, where state compliance and effectiveness are determined by strategic interests and resistance from powerful actors.

Why are human rights considered "modern and political"?

They are not timeless moral truths but historically contingent ideas that emerged alongside developments like individualism and liberalism, meaning they must be constantly interpreted and contested.

The Dual Character of Human Rights

Rights can be emancipatory, by enabling challenges to domination and exclusion, or conservative, by reinforcing existing power structures and inequalities.

Controversy as a "Feature" of Human Rights

Human rights generate conflict because they make normative claims that challenge authority and hierarchy; this disagreement signals their political significance rather than a lack of legitimacy.

Instrumental vs. Expressive Uses of Rights

Rights function in 2 ways: Instrumentally (to change laws, institutions, or behavior) and Expressively (to affirm dignity, identity, and moral worth).

The Paradox of Institutionalization

When rights are embedded in legal and bureaucratic systems, they gain stability but often lose their disruptive power and have their transformative potential narrowed.

Human Rights and Structural Inequality

Institutionalized rights often fail to address economic inequality, particularly under neoliberal arrangements, which challenges what rights can realistically accomplish within existing power systems.

Backlash and Resistance

Often elite-driven and linked to nationalism or authoritarianism, backlash reflects continued resistance to the challenges rights pose to power and signals an ongoing political struggle.

Political Analysis of Treaties and Compliance

This approach views international treaties as products of political compromise, where state compliance is determined by strategic interests and resistance from powerful actors.

Human Rights

Inherent entitlements that every person possesses based on their humanity.