Rights and Justice - Key Terms

Key terms for Global Politics SL Unit 2 Rights and Justice

Inalienable

Unable to be taken away from or given away by the possessor.

Preamble

Sets the philosophical foundation of the UDHR, emphasizing dignity, equality, and the inalienable rights of all members of the human family.

Transnational Corporations (TNCs)

Companies that can drive economic development but are implicated in labor rights abuses and environmental degradation.

Universalism

The belief that human rights are applicable to all humans, regardless of cultural or national differences.

Cultural Relativism

The idea that human rights should be interpreted within the context of specific cultural norms and values.

Individual Rights

Rights needed by each individual to pursue their lives and goals without interference.

Group or Collective Rights

Rights held by a group rather than by its individual members.

Civil Liberties

Freedoms from interference in the lives of individuals, often detailed in the constitution.

Civil Rights

Specific rights which are guaranteed by legislation.

Codification

The process by which laws are collected and arranged in an orderly way to form rights in a society.

Morals

Value judgements and principles about right and wrong.

Norms

Standards of appropriate behaviour.

Coercion

The act of persuasion using force or power.

Intrinsic

Belonging naturally; essential.

Fraternity / Solidarity

A group of people sharing a common interest.

Apartheid

The implementation of legalized racial segregation, depriving political and civil rights.

Imperialistic

Refers to how the definition of rights is decided by powerful stakeholders and forced on others.

Emancipation

Freedom and liberty.

Supranational

Refers to a collective group outside of the power of an individual state (e.g., United Nations).

Constitution

Set of rules that determine how a state or country is run, including a preamble and a guarantee of specific rights.

Ratifying

The state accepts that it is bound by a particular treaty.

Signing

The state agrees in principle but is not yet ready to fully commit to a treaty.

Politicization

The action of causing an activity to become political.