POLS 1160 Lecture Notes - Lecture 21: International Criminal Court, Human Rights Watch, Universal Jurisdiction

• School: Northeastern University
• Department: Political Science
• Course: POLS 1160
• Professor: Maness

Document Summary

Conceptions of human rights usually follow western ideals: john locke developed idea of natural rights. People are by nature free and equal and posses rights independent of laws, customs, and beliefs. Western ideals of human rights: primary unit is the individual, not the community, freedom placed about other values, focus on political and economic rights. Notion was at odds w/ community focus of socialism. The universal declaration of human rights (udhr: two binding agreements, international covenant on civil and political rights (iccp) can discuss grievances to gov. without fear. International covenant of economic, social, and cultural rights (icesc) Weaker states may see foreign efforts to promote individual political rights as a means of increasing western influence: some cultures value stability and order over personal liberty. Ex: some in middle east protested freedom of expression as western. Human rights issues= sensitive b/w us and china: developing universal list of human rights among cultures is a continuous issue.