SOC101Y1 Lecture Notes - Feminist Legal Theory, Substantive Law, Individual And Group Rights
Document Summary
Readings required for may 6, 2013 (1) article: democracy and the rights revolution by michael ignatieff. Change known as the rights revolution which took off in the 1960 s in all industrialized countries. Examples include: women s rights, gay rights, aboriginal rights. Rights revolution is a story of inclusion, of how previously excluded groups obtained right of equality but also how rights serves to protect certain groups from the effects of democracy. I. e. group rights to language and aboriginal rights to land and resources are designed to enable minorities to protect that which is essential to their survival from the power of elective majorities. Rights revolution has a double aspect: 1) it is to enhance our right to be equal 2) protect our right to difference. This is the essential challenge brought by rights revolution to enhance equality while safeguarding difference. Rights represent a legal attempt to give meaning to certain values; dignity, equality and respect.
