The Globalization of Human Rights: A Critical Assessment

Abstract

This paper aims to argue for the incorporation of human rights within the globalization process. Human rights are defined as societal aspirations for freedom and well-being, inherently possessing a global dimension. The following sections seek to elucidate the globalization of human rights through various lenses. Firstly, this paper traces the historical evolution of rights concepts, spanning from early modernity to contemporary times, emphasizing the emergence of divergent definitions that coexist in tension within the modern world. The latter part of the paper will delve into the "globalization of rights," focusing on the dissemination of universal human rights principles across diverse cultural landscapes. In the final segment, attention will be directed towards the emergence of novel institutional frameworks founded upon human rights principles, tasked with upholding these rights on a global scale. The terms "global civil society" and "transnational cosmopolitanism" frequently used to characterize these emerging structures, will be critically examined to discern the extent to which globalization has facilitated the formation of a global civil society, and to delineate the defining features of this nascent organization.