SOSC 2351 Lecture Notes - Lecture 12: Well-Founded Relation, United Nations General Assembly, Non-Refoulement

• School: York University
• Department: Social Science
• Course: SOSC 2351
• Professor: Tanja Juric

Document Summary

Possessed in virtue of belonging to a political community (citizen) Human rights are ineffectual/illusory because their enforcement is often in tension with national sovereignty (civil rights) Emphasizes importance of community in the functioning of political life. Roots in socialism, and perhaps some religious/cultural traditions. Focus on common good, rather than good of individuals alone. Objects to liberal and libertarian view of individual as existing outside/apart from society. Communitarians see individual as profoundly embedded within society. All social phenomena (including human rights) are collectively agreed upon ideas. Intersubjective understanding of our world, beliefs, identities, norms, values. These shared meanings establish social facts (truths) Theories like realism and liberalism operates on (seemingly objective) ideals; not getting full picture. U. s does not regard british nuclear weapons as a threat, but is against the same for iran and north korea. We need to understand how human rights (concerns, laws, ideals) are shaped and portrayed by society.