Human Rights and The big Economic Stick

Upholding basic human rights is considered an important criterion for having diplomatic relations with other sovereign states. Although a prerequisite such as that is a favourable requirement when carrying out diplomatic relations, trade embargoes or sanctions against countries for human rights abuses is however not a proficient practice. Stifling the economic flows of a country has its proven merits in affecting commerce but it disproportionately hurts the victims of so human right abuse as comapored to the effects they have on the perpetuators.

There are clear parameters contained within human rights charters and declarations such as that adopted on December tenth nineteen forty eight by the United Nations general assembly. The right to life and self determination are consider to be two of the basic and universals human rights but these are still considered to be ideals and countries are free to perceive and administer them differently.

Judging cultures based on western criteria may in itself present problems. The remedies geare towards solving a problem in a certain society must be compatible to the cultural zeitgeist of the particular society. Human rights ideals are aligned to the western concept of capitalist goals of freedom of choice. There are many positive capitalist ideals that are universally beneficial in terms of human rights. The western concept of human rights may clash with non western ideologies and cultures, sometimes considered inhumane when being judged from a western perspective of right and wrong. This ethnocentric view impairs judgement of the cultural practices and may lead to alien solutions which are not compatible to the local situation.

Sovereign states may differ in their judgements on what constitutes human rights abuse. South Africa maintained an apartheid system until nineteen ninety. Nelson Mandela after being released from jail became the first person of African decent to be the head of government in the country. Trade sanctions were placed against South Africa. But it took a while before the apartheid system crumbled probably more from internal resistance as was from international pressure.

The actions of certain states may appear to be breaching human rights themselves, and yet they sit in judgement of other states cultures and practices and governments. Powerful countries with hegemonic sway may use economic and other forms of leverage against other countries while they are defiling human rights ideals themselves. The United States admonishes the Cuban government for human rights and the its former UN Ambassador Mr Bolton objected to the inclusion of Cuba and certain other nations on the human rights committee, according to a human rights watch report the United States was at the same time grossly negligent of prisoner’s human right,taking place on Cuban soil at the Guantanamo Bay prison in Cuba.

The people who are exposed to human rights abuses are usually the poorest and most destitute of societies, by using economic leverages like sanctions it is usually the poorest people of the state who are harmed. Human rights should be governed by principles based on social goals. The economic logic of efficiency over equity should not determine human rights ideals and policy. Nor does economic sanctions, help in bringing human rights to the people.