Introduction to Human Rights - Essay Example

Introduction to Human Rights Introduction The issue of human rights plays a crucial role in the modern international context. A well-balanced human rights protection of countries and their attitude to this issue in the modern global world guarantee successful cooperation of different countries in the international arena. Human rights are an internationally recognized standard, which refers to personal needs. “Human rights do not require a comprehensive political framework for their implementation; their protection is compatible with the multiplicity of governance, including democratic state government, characteristic of global politics.

Finally, human rights articulate aims rather than mechanisms” (Goodhart, 2008). It is relevant to focus on modern approaches and methodologies applied in the field of human rights by modern researchers and scientists in order to assess a current position of the issue in the international relations. Human rights in the international relations: a modern view In the book “Human Rights in International Relations” (2009) by David Forsythe the issue of the importance of human rights in the international context is discussed.

In the beginning of the book the author underlines the importance of liberalism. Individual and political rights should be developed harmoniously in liberal democracies. Human rights issues are widely violated and the creation of international committees and courts, where human rights are defended, - all these steps do not guarantee appropriate individual defense on the international level. Moreover, it is underlined that liberal principles are on the way of their development and it needs time, material resources, political and social reforms all over the world in order to pay a special attention and a real assistance for human rights protection.

After a brief introduction into human rights protection internationally the author makes an attempt to find the roots of human rights in philosophy. Philosophical background of human rights is a starting point for further discussion about the importance of human rights in the international relations. A peaceful and friendly global society is reached in case human rights are protected. The International Bill of Rights and UN attitude to human rights protection is a focal point for contemporaries to initiate further developments and improve this political and social crucial issue.

There is a direct relation between human rights protection and democracy. It is claimed that in case of hegemonic regime human rights are violated. Thus, the book by Forsythe is a multifaceted work devoted to the origin, history and development of human rights as a concept and as a political and social phenomenon in the world. Another book written by Jack Donnelly “International Human Rights” (2007) is focused on the issue of human rights and its origin. The main attention is paid to post WWII period and it is correlated with the modern challenges of human rights with regards to globalization and terrorism.

New players in the international arena, such as UN and NGO are positioned by the author as parties able to influence on the human rights position in the modern world. Moreover, the author’s manner to compare and contrast past years (post war period) and modernity is an interesting methodology, which is based on case studies of countries, where human rights are violated. A success of the modern society the author finds in the human rights’ observance. The Universality of Human Rights is a relevant view on the human rights issue in the modern globalized society.

On the one hand, it is relevant to take into account the needs of different countries in the field of human rights, but on the other hand globalized society is a uniform integrated organism, where is necessary to pay attention to rights protection of the actors (i.e. to human rights protection). Conclusion As far as we can see, in the modern world a special attention is paid to human rights protection. The issue of human right protection is very important. In order to develop and improve this field, previous experience of different countries, philosophical ideas and correlation with historical events are taken into account.

As a result, we can see a real progress in the field of human rights protection and international community attention to the issue. Works cited 1. Donnelly, Jack. International Human Rights. 3rd. edition. Westview Press, 2007. 2. Forsythe, David. Human Rights in International Relations. 2nd. Edition. Cambridge, 2009. 3. Goodhart, M. Human Rights and Global Democracy. Ethics & International Affairs, 2008: 22 (4), 395 - 400.