what are human right?

human rights - basic rights and freedoms to which all human beings are entitled. they are applicable at all times and in all places and they protect everyone equally without discrimination.

key terms

Global governance - intervention by the global community, attempting to regulate issues, such as human rights, sovereignty and territorial integrity. 

Human rights norms - established customary behaviour based on moral principles and ways of living within a country/region. 

International treaties - international agreements concluded between states, in written form and governed by international law. 

Intervention - actions of a state, group of states or international organizations in a foreign territory to end gross violations of human rights. 

human rights norms

Ways of living that have been inculcated into the culture of a country or area over long periods of time. The basis of established customs and norms drawn from all cultures, religions, philosophies across the world. Based on the moral principles that underpin universally accepted standards of human behavior. 

Human rights are protected by international law. State governments sign international treaties making it the duty of states to respect, protect and fulfil international human rights. 

States that uphold human rights norms are shown as 'free' on the map, predominantly western democracies. 

intervention

Includes the use of military force by a state or group of states in a foreign territory in order to end gross violation of fundamental human rights of its citizens.  This type of intervention is often referred to as humanitarian intervention as it often tackles humanitarian crises that have developed in a country. 

The UN Security Council is the only body that can legally authorise use of force through security council resolutions, but military intervention remains controversial. 

Intervention can be undertaken by military forces such as the US/UK military or by the UN's own peacekeeping force. 

geopolitics

The global balance of political power and international relations. The pattern of political power is closely linked to economic power in terms of relative wealth and international trade strength. 

There are a number of established geopolitical relationships around the world:

  1. The United States is the worlds only Superpower able to maintain a military presence anywhere in the world. It has a number of military bases and ports with allied countries around the world. 

  2. There are supranational organizations such as the European Union which as a collective of 27 countries exert significant political pressure. 

  3. There are military organizations such as NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) a collection of militaries obliged to respond to military attack against any of its member states. 

  4. China uses Foreign Direct Investment to establish close political ties with LIDCs in the Pacific and Sub-Saharan Africa and has begun building military bases in some of these countries.