Activity 1 - Universalism vs. Relativism

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Activity Tasks

1. Recall - Think back to your research presentations from Lesson 2 on human rights breaches from around the world. Use those case studies to help you discuss these questions:
   1. Are the examples you found of breaches of Human Rights accepted as genuine breaches of natural law in the countries these breaches took place in?
   2. Should the perpetrators of these breaches be punished in an international or national court.
   3. Is there a common geographical pattern with the breaches of Human Rights that you have found.
   4. As the UN Declaration on Human Rights is vague and open to interpretation should we be surprised that there are not more breaches of these rights.
2. Read - Examine this article which outlines the differences between universalism and cultural relativism in regards to Human Rights. Try to answer these questions and share your ideas with the class:
   1. ​Why is the universality of human rights unachievable? (p. 24)
   2. How do collective needs conflict with individual rights? (p. 24-25)
   3. Why is it unfair to equate human rights with Western cultural imperialism? (p. 25)
   4. What does ‘cross-cultural fertilisation’ mean?
   5. To what extent is human rights a multi-cultural concept?
   6. What consensus is there over the concept of justice?
   7. To what extent is Islamic Sharia Law compatible with human rights?
   8. Why do states vary in their perception of justice? (p. 24)
3. Define - Read this article summarising the debate between human rights universalism vs. cultural relativism. Use your readings so far to write a definition of both terms.
4. Discuss - Can you take a third position on human rights? Can there be consensus between universalism and cultural relativism in regards to human rights?

Activity 2 - Debating Human Rights

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Activity Tasks

1. Motion - In groups, you will now research and debate the following motion: “This house believes that the Universal Declaration of Human Rights is an obsolete concept and should be dismissed as another form of western cultural imperialism”
2. Groups - Form into groups of three. One team will form the proposition and argue in favour of the motion. The other team will form the opposition and argue against the motion. 
3. Research - In your debate teams, research potential arguments and reasons for your position. Be sure to use the following sources to help you find examples and evidence to use in your speeches:
   1. Proposition
      1. End human rights imperialism now | Stephen Kinzer | Opinion
      2. Universality and Western Imperialism
      3. The Attack on Human Rights by Michael Ignatieff
      4. Are Human Rights Universal? by Thomas M. Franck
      5. The case against human rights | Eric Posner or listen to this article here
   2. Opposition
      1. International human rights: a Western construct? by Faisal Kutty
      2. Are human rights Western? by Robert
 Fine

      3. Western Human Rights in a Diverse World: Cultural Suppression or Relativism?
      4. Human rights: an inescapably western product?
      5. Is “Human Rights” a Western Concept?
         
4. Debate - When you are finished researching, your teacher will help you run the debate. Refer to these rules for the debate to help you prepare. Good luck!

Activity 3 - What was our inquiry?

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Activity Tasks

1. Mind-Map - Create a concept-map using Padlet, Mindmup or any other similar mind-mapping tool (or create a sketchnote by hand!) to unpack and brainstorm the statement of inquiry for this unit: 
   
   1. Human Rights have developed over time in response to changing social, cultural, economic and political conditions
      
2. Concepts - What concepts did we study? Make sure you include the following concepts for this unit as subheadings:
   1. Key Concept - Development
   2. Related Global Politics Concepts - Human Rights
   3. Global Context - Orientation in Time and Space (Civilisations and Social Histories)
      
3. Recall - Now fill in your mind-map with key real world examples and facts about the main concepts and ideas of the topic. Be sure to include details and examples of the following human rights examples to illustrate:
   
   1. Definitions - rights, entitlements, duties, universal, interdependent, indivisible, inalienable
      
   2. Historical Development - key human rights milestones; religious teachings; natural rights; individualism, humanitarianism; political revolutions; social contract theory; international humanitarian law; conventions
   3. UDHR - 30 Articles; Positive and negative articles; first/second/third generation articles
   4. Types of Rights - positive and negative rights; first, second, third generation rights
   5. Challenges - state sovereignty vs. human rights; enforcement; implementation; contemporary breaches
      
   6. Theoretical Perspectives - universalism vs. cultural relativism; realism; liberalism; critical theories

Activity 4 - Are human rights Western?

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Activity Tasks

1. Select - Try practicing for your Paper 2 essay by planning previous questions on this topic. Use the essay mark-scheme to help:
   1. “Universal rights should take precedence over cultural relativism in the formation of human rights treaties and covenants.” Discuss this view - Nov 2017
   2. Discuss the extent to which cultural relativism can be used to justify different concepts of human rights - May 2015
   3. “The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948) seeks to impose a Western view of human rights on non-Western societies.” To what extent do you agree with this criticism? - Specimen Paper
2. Plan - Try using the following headings to help you breakdown your question and identify relevant material to include in your essay answer:
   1. Key concepts - which key concepts apply to your essay? 
   2. Actors - which political actors are involved? What level of analysis is relevant?
   3. Examples - what human rights events, documents, treaties, conventions etc… Are they relevant?
      
   4. Perspectives - what theoretical perspectives and counter-claims are there on this essay question?

Pre-Reading for Next Topic

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OBLIGATORY READING

1. Kirsch, M. (2017). Oxford IB Diploma Programme: Global Politics Course Companion, pp. 61-65

RECOMMENDED READING

1. Murphy, R. & Gleek, C. (2016). Pearson Baccalaureate: Global Politics, pp. 38-42

SUPPLEMENTARY READING

1. Heywood, A. (2011), Global Politics, pp. 339-350

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PREVIOUS LESSON - HOW HAVE HUMAN RIGHTS DEVELOPED?

TOPIC 2 MENU - WHO OR WHAT PROTECTS OUR HUMAN RIGHTS?