CT260 Lecture Notes - Lecture 4: Kofi Annan, Cultural Relativism, Spiral Model
Document Summary
Idea of human rights has become the norm. Human rights are in "parsol" with international relations. Expressed in the form of positive or man made law. Power: who has it; how to get it; how to keep it. No international government to govern all states, the world is in a state o o of constant upheaval depending on what those with power are doing. Primary goal of state is pursuit of national interest o o o. Human rights are only important as they help these interests. Not only will human rights fall to the bottom of the list but they should. Liberalism is associated with individuality, freedom of state, and freedom from state oppresion. Human rights are used to sugar coat human nature or whatever. World is dominated by westphalian principle of state sovereignty o. Despite gains in acceptance of human rights, political realism is dominant theory of today"s global relations o century.
