CANS 200 Lecture : The Rights Movement
17 Apr 2012
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Document Summary
Canadian rights as british rights rather than human rights until the mid 20th century. Civil rights movement in canada merges with postcolonial . British political culture is steeped in rights talk dating back to magna carta. These are among the historically negotiated rights of british subjects. Liberal political theory suggest that a right is a need: something we absolutely must have. 17th century: hobbes" social contract: we have a right to life because we need our lives. And so we have a right to resist governments that threaten our right to life. Under british rule, british rights are extended to the new subjects: indigenous peoples, french canadians. There"s also some recognition of aboriginal rights, including some sort of entitlement to the land they live on (however narrowly defined). Pursuit of the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness is seen revolutionary, dangerous, decadent; unbritish and therefore uncanadian.
