Human Rights and the Age of Inequality - Samuel Moyn || Grade 12, Compulsory English, Literature

Human Rights and the Age of Inequality - Samuel Moyn || Grade 12, Compulsory English, Literature

Human Rights and the Age of Inequality

Samuel Moyn

Before Reading

Discuss the following questions.

a. How do you define human rights?

b. Do you know about constitution? How does the Constitution of Nepal guarantee the human rights?

 

About Author:

v Samuel Moyn is Professor of Law and Professor of History at Harvard University,

v In 2000, he received a doctorate in modern European history form University of California-Berkeley

v In 2001, he received a law degree from Harvard University,

v He was Jeremiah Smith, Jr. Professor of Law and Professor of History at Harvard University

v His areas of interest include international law, human rights, the law of war etc.

v He has worked on a diverse range of subjects-20th century European moral and political theory,

v He has written several books about European Intellectual history and human rights history

v His books: The Last Utopia: Human Rights in History, Christian Human Rights, Not Enough: Human Rights in an Unequal World (2018),

 

Human Rights and the age of inequality

The human rights regime (rules) and movement are simply not equipped to challenge global inequalities,

In this essay he deals with the drastic mismatch between the egalitarian समतावादी

( a belief in human equality especially with respect to social, political and economic affairs; a social philosophy advocating the removal of inequalities among people) crisis and the human rights remedy that demands not a substitute but a supplement,

 

In his essay "Human Rights and Age of Inequality," Samuel Moyn argues that the human rights movement has been too narrowly focused on the legal and political dimensions of human rights, neglecting the economic and social dimensions that are necessary for true equality. Moyn argues that the focus on legal and political rights has led to the normalization of extreme economic inequality, and that a more robust human rights framework is needed to address this problem. Moyn concludes that the human rights movement must expand its focus to include economic and social rights, and must work to create a more equal world for all.

 

Summary

In his essay "Human Rights and Age of Inequality," Samuel Moyn explores the limitations of the human rights movement in addressing economic inequality. While acknowledging the important role that human rights have played in promoting political and legal rights, Moyn argues that the narrow focus on these dimensions has left the economic and social dimensions of human rights largely unaddressed.

 

Moyn asserts that the focus on legal and political rights has allowed for the normalization of extreme economic inequality, which has become a defining feature of the current era. According to Moyn, human rights have been co-opted by elites and used to justify the unequal distribution of resources, with political and legal rights being emphasized at the expense of economic and social rights. As a result, the human rights movement has failed to address the root causes of inequality and has become a tool of the very system it was meant to challenge.

 

To address this problem, Moyn advocates for a more robust human rights framework that includes economic and social rights. He acknowledges that this will require a significant shift in thinking, as economic and social rights are often viewed as less concrete and more difficult to enforce than legal and political rights. However, Moyn argues that this shift is necessary in order to create a more just and equal world.

 

Moyn acknowledges that there are challenges to implementing economic and social rights, including the reluctance of some governments to recognize them and the difficulty of enforcing them in practice. However, he suggests that a more robust human rights framework could provide a powerful tool for mobilizing public opinion and putting pressure on governments and other powerful actors to address economic inequality.

 

In conclusion, Moyn argues that the human rights movement must expand its focus to include economic and social rights if it is to remain relevant in the face of growing inequality. He suggests that this will require a fundamental rethinking of the goals and strategies of the movement, as well as a willingness to challenge the assumptions that have long guided it. Ultimately, Moyn asserts, a more robust human rights framework can help to create a world that is more just, equal, and humane for all.

 

Understanding the Text

 

a. What is the first human rights declaration adopted by the United Nations?

➜ The first major human rights declaration adopted by the United Nations was the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) in 1948. The UDHR recognized a wide range of civil, political, economic, social, and cultural rights as essential to human dignity and called on all nations to promote and protect these rights for all people.

 

 

b. When is Human Rights Day observed?

 

➜ Human Rights Day is observed annually on December 10th. It commemorates the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by the United Nations General Assembly on December 10, 1948.

 

c. What is the goal of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights?

➜ The goal of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) is to establish a common standard of human rights that should be universally protected and respected.

 

d. What are two big stages that involve writing the history of human rights in relation to that of political economy?

 

➜ The two big stages that involve writing the history of human rights in relation to political economy, according to Samuel Moyn's essay "Human Rights and Age of Inequality," are:

 

       I.          The "rights revolution" of the mid-twentieth century, marked by the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948, which primarily focused on promoting civil liberties and protecting individuals from government abuses.

     II.          The "neoliberal turn" of the late twentieth century, marked by the rise of neoliberalism and the globalization of the economy, which increasingly saw human rights as a tool for promoting economic development and liberalization, and shifted the focus to economic and social rights.

 

e. What are the facts that have been missed in Roosevelt’s call for a “second Bill of Rights”?

➜ The facts that were missed in Roosevelt's call for a "second Bill of Rights" included the lack of a clear plan for how these rights would be implemented, the failure to address the underlying economic structures that perpetuated inequality, and the lack of a strong political movement to demand and enforce these rights. Moyn argues that while Roosevelt's call for a second Bill of Rights was a significant moment in the history of human rights, it ultimately failed to effectively address the problem of economic inequality.

 

f. Write the truth expressed in Herodotus’s Histories.

➜ The truth expressed in Herodotus's Histories is that the outcome of the Persian Wars was not predetermined, and that the Greeks were able to achieve victory over the much larger Persian army due to their bravery, cunning, and unity. Additionally, Herodotus's Histories contains a wealth of information about ancient Greek culture, politics, and society, providing valuable insights into the way of life of the ancient Greeks.

 

 

g. Why is the Universal Declaration of Human Rights important to you?

 

➜ The Universal Declaration of Human Rights is important because it provides a universal standard for human rights that should be protected and respected by all nations. It recognizes a broad range of civil, political, economic, social, and cultural rights as essential to human dignity and calls for the promotion and protection of these rights for all people.

 

Reference to the Context

 

 

a. Does the essay give ways on how to stigmatize inequality? Explain.

➜ No, the essay "Human Rights and the Age of Inequality" by Samuel Moyn does not give ways on how to stigmatize inequality. Instead, the essay focuses on the historical development of human rights and their relationship with political economy, arguing that the current human rights framework, which emphasizes economic and social rights, is insufficient in addressing the problem of growing economic inequality. Moyn suggests the need for a more robust human rights framework that includes economic and social rights, but also recognizes the need for fundamental changes in economic and political structures to address inequality.

 

 

b. Is another human rights movement necessary? Why?

➜ According to Samuel Moyn's essay "Human Rights and the Age of Inequality," another human rights movement may be necessary because the current human rights framework, which emphasizes economic and social rights, has not been effective in addressing the problem of growing economic inequality. While the mid-twentieth century "rights revolution" led to the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the recognition of a broad range of human rights, the neoliberal turn of the late twentieth century has seen human rights primarily used as a tool for promoting economic development and liberalization, rather than challenging economic structures that perpetuate inequality. Moyn argues that a more robust human rights framework is needed, one that not only recognizes economic and social rights but also recognizes the need for fundamental changes in economic and political structures to address inequality.

 

 Reference beyond the text

 

a. What are the challenges in maintaining human rights in Nepal?

➜ There are several challenges in maintaining human rights in Nepal, including:

·       Political instability and weak governance: Nepal has faced significant political instability in recent years, with frequent changes in government and a weak governance system. This has led to difficulties in ensuring the protection and promotion of human rights.

·       Discrimination and inequality: Nepal has a history of discrimination based on caste, gender, ethnicity, and religion, which poses a significant challenge to human rights. Despite legal protections, discrimination and inequality continue to exist in various forms.

·       Lack of access to justice: Many people in Nepal, especially those from marginalized communities, face barriers in accessing justice. This includes limited access to legal representation, lack of knowledge about legal rights, and corruption in the justice system.

·       Humanitarian crises: Nepal has faced several humanitarian crises in recent years, including natural disasters, conflicts, and displacement. These crises have led to a significant impact on people's human rights, including access to food, shelter, and healthcare.

·       Child labor and trafficking: Nepal has a high incidence of child labor and trafficking, which is a significant challenge to human rights. Children are often exploited for cheap labor or forced into sex work, and the government faces significant challenges in addressing these issues effectively.