The Impact of Human Right on Globalization

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Table of Contents

Introduction: Definition of the Two Notions
Brief History of Human Rights Development
Conclusion
Reference List

Introduction: Definition of the Two Notions

Globalization became one of the most burning issues several decades ago. Researchers have been talking about the influence of globalization on different aspects of people’s lives. Of course, many people agree that globalization has had certain effects on the development of human rights movement.

At the same time, it is important to note that the influence has been mutual. Thus, human rights movements have had enormous impact on globalization as well. Admittedly, the news about victories of human rights movements in some states spread quickly and people from different countries strived for the same empowerment. Therefore, people, without even noticing it, have been building similar societies, i.e. societies based on human rights where citizens strive for equality and fairness.

However, to understand the link between globalization and human rights, it is important to define the two notions. Twiss (2004) claims that there are several types of human rights. The researcher focuses on individual and collective human rights.

Twiss (2004, p. 42) states that human rights are “the rights of individuals to essential civil, political, social, and economic conditions as well as their equality in such protections”. As far as the collective rights are concerned, Twiss (2004) stresses that these are the right of nations to build their own societies preserving religious, economic, political, cultural, etc. peculiarities.

These are two major types of human rights which are interconnected with globalization. According to Gavison (2003), globalization is development of the world where nations adopt the same rules (including economic, political, cultural, civic, etc.) and conventions. Admittedly, the spread of human rights can be regarded as a product of globalization. Nonetheless, development of human right movements can also be regarded as the necessary background for globalization.

Brief History of Human Rights Development

The Necessary Preconditions

In the 17^th century, ideas of liberalism were becoming stronger as the social order in the countries of that epoch was declining. The development of industries led to the change in wealth distribution and the old conventions and privileges could not be based on that order anymore (Moller & Skaaning, 2012).

The clergy and nobility lost their authority and people almost stopped (or were reluctant) to give (money, products, labor) to those layers. Empowerment of the new social strata (i.e. bourgeoisie) resulted in the understanding that people should have equal rights (at least, to certain extent). It is necessary to note that the absolute monarchy which reached the most striking forms in France was one of preconditions for the French revolutions and the change of the social order.

Development of the Movement in Different Countries

Notably, the Industrial Revolution is often linked to the Civil War in Britain and French Revolutions. As has been mentioned above, economic empowerment was one of the premises for the development of human rights movement (Moller & Skaaning, 2012).

Importantly, victories of nations encouraged people in different countries to take their stand and fight for their rights. Thus, after the great benefits gained during the Civil War in Great Britain, French people as well as Americans were inspired to pursue their rights as well. European countries and countries of the New World were changing during decades.

The Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries

It is important to note that the development of the movement did not stop in the eighteenth century. Moller and Skaaning (2012) claim that the nineteenth century was also the era of revolutions and great gains. However, the fight was slightly transformed as certain groups’ rights were brought to the fore (Moller & Skaaning, 2012). Thus, the slavery in the USA and countries of the Americas was completely abolished. Lots of women’s rights activists started their struggle and their voices grew stronger.

Though there were loads of victories in terms of the struggle for human rights, the movement never ceased to exist. The twentieth century was marked with the struggle for civil rights in the USA, African and Muslim countries (Moller & Skaaning, 2012). People strived for equality and they wanted democracy in their real lives (not only on the paper). People strived for manifestation of human rights in their countries.

Preconditions for Globalization

Noteworthy, all these gains and developments led to the creation of countries that cherished similar values. This was one of the most important preconditions for the start of globalization (Lee & Lee, 2010). People strived for democracy and equality which united them. There was no such a notion as blind loyalty to a monarch. People valued their lives properly and the leaders of the countries also had to value their lives. A global society with similar values was being created.

However, apart from the same values, there was another potent precondition. The two World Wars made people see that the countries are united and it was crucial to create global organizations to ensure peace in the world as well as development of the humanity. A variety of international organizations promoted certain values.

The membership in such organization suggested a lot of benefits for countries and, of course, it also required compliance with particular rules. This is when the globalization started affecting the development of human rights movements. Though, it is also important to note that the organizations have been strict when it comes to economic violations, while human rights violations are often ignored. Therefore, the influence of globalization is not as big as many researchers are trying to emphasize.

Conclusion

On balance, it is necessary to note that there is a link between the development of human rights and globalization. However, while many researchers think that globalization affects human rights development, the impact of human rights on globalization is a bit more significant.

Thus, the struggle for human rights has been ongoing for several centuries. At the same time, globalization (as it is) is no more than two centuries. The globalization would have been impossible if people had lived in different societies. Trade between countries of different social orders was always easy, but the close cooperation became possible in the twentieth century only. This can be explained by the fact that in the twentieth century the vast majority of states were striving for social equality and all nations cherished basic human rights.

Even though there have been violations of human rights in many countries, the leaders of these states long for being members of global organizations as this ensures financial support. Of course, now globalization contributes to the development of human rights movement. Nonetheless, globalization is only the product of development of human rights and the history (as well as the present) of both trends proves this assumption.

Reference List

Gavison, R. (2003). On the relationship between civil and political rights, and social and economic rights. In J.M. Coicaud, M.W. Doyle & A.M. Gardenerf (Eds.), The globalization of human rights (pp. 23-56). Frankfurt, Germany: United Nations University Press.

Lee, D.E., & Lee, E.J. (2010). Human rights and the ethics of globalization. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press.

Moller, J., & Skaaning, S.E. (2012). Democracy and democratization in comparative perspective: Conceptions, conjunctures, causes, and consequences. New York, NY: Routledge.

Twiss, S.B.. (2004). History, human rights, and globalization. Journal of Religious Ethics, 32(1), 39-70.

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