This document summarizes Anthony Langlois's article "Human Rights without Democracy? A Critique of the Separationist Thesis". The summary includes:
(1) Langlois argues that the separationist thesis, which claims that human rights can exist without democracy, is flawed. He presents several counterarguments showing that democracy and human rights are intertwined and mutually reinforcing.
(2) A key argument is that human rights without democracy are merely norms or standards that do not guarantee people can actually claim their rights. For rights to have substance, there needs to be governmental accountability to citizens.
(3) Langlois ultimately concludes that liberal democracy is preferable to alternative forms of government like
This document summarizes Anthony Langlois's article "Human Rights without Democracy? A Critique of the Separationist Thesis". The summary includes:
(1) Langlois argues that the separationist thesis, which claims that human rights can exist without democracy, is flawed. He presents several counterarguments showing that democracy and human rights are intertwined and mutually reinforcing.
(2) A key argument is that human rights without democracy are merely norms or standards that do not guarantee people can actually claim their rights. For rights to have substance, there needs to be governmental accountability to citizens.
(3) Langlois ultimately concludes that liberal democracy is preferable to alternative forms of government like
This document summarizes Anthony Langlois's article "Human Rights without Democracy? A Critique of the Separationist Thesis". The summary includes:
(1) Langlois argues that the separationist thesis, which claims that human rights can exist without democracy, is flawed. He presents several counterarguments showing that democracy and human rights are intertwined and mutually reinforcing.
(2) A key argument is that human rights without democracy are merely norms or standards that do not guarantee people can actually claim their rights. For rights to have substance, there needs to be governmental accountability to citizens.
(3) Langlois ultimately concludes that liberal democracy is preferable to alternative forms of government like
Anthony Langlois, “Human Rights without Democracy? A Critique of the
Separationist Thesis”
(1) Introduction [990-993]
Generally accepted legitimacy of democracy Sections (and only democracy) (1) Introduction [990-993] Western and non-western democracies (2) The Separationist Thesis [993-995] Ambiguities of internationalization of democracy Similarities w/ respect to human rights (3) An Evolving Global Failure to note ambiguities (esp. in HR discourse) Culture of Human Rights as leading to undermining of veracity of rights as [995-1000] rights and reducing importance of democracy(4) Sidestepping (2) The Separationist Thesis [993-995] Democracy [1000-1002] Neo-imperialism argument (and separationist (5) Democracy as Neo- response) Imperialism [1002-1005] “Asian values” debate and the “clash of civilizations” Radical and fundamental change wrought (6) by Critical Counter the separationist thesis Arguments [1005-1006] (3) An Evolving Global Culture of Human Rights(7) Making Sense of West- [995-1000] centrism [1006-1008] Relative power of human rights position (8) The Historically internationally Interdependent HR successes undermining assumptions/claims of Development of Human the international relations realist Rights and Democracy Threefold significance of HR achievements: [1008-1010] (1) recognition of importance of HR (9) A Common Liberal (2) global institutionalization of HR (3) achievements in domestic bodies ofOntology law [1010-1013] Relative lack of recognition of importance (10) The Necessity of of democracy Democracy for Human Role of realpolitik in subscriptions to HR policy Progress towards democracy vs. progress Rights towards HR [1014-1017] Linking HR progress and aid (and moral duplicity) (11) The Undesirability of Conceptual separation between democracy and HR Benevolent (4) Sidestepping Democracy [1000-1002] Authoritarianism [1017- Pragmatic argument for separationist position Majoritarian, consensual, consociational, limited, aspiring, executive, etc. democracies Economic growth aiding development of democracy vs. democracy destabilizing economy Possibility of benevolent authoritarian regime (USSR example) Antagonistic, but strategically inclined towards HR, authoritarian states Movement towards democracy as delaying HR advances (5) Democracy as Neo-Imperialism [1002-1005] Again, Western-centrism of democracy Philosophy 338 | Summer 2009 Brandon Morgan-Olsen | 8.14
Dangers of globalization (i.e., reactionary backlashes)
Reasons (self-interested and otherwise) for resistance to democracy Two assumed premises (1) democracy is “Western-centric” (2) human rights are not Western-centric Major problem: difficulty of separating democratic values and HR values Confusion between descriptive/aspirational elements of normative democracy/human rights discourse (6) Critical Counter Arguments [1005-1006] Reduction of human rights to human rights standards/norms Fivefold line of argument: 1. Both democracy and HR are western-centric 2. Historical development of ideas & practices of democracy/HR as intrinsically linked 3. Philosophical grounds of democracy and HR are the same 4. Human rights outside of a democracy are norms/standards (little more than charity) 5. Liberal democracy is more desirable than a benevolent dictatorship (7) Making Sense of West-centrism [1006-1008] Investigating the idea of “Western values” “Asian values debate”; problem of representation (voices of authoritarianism resisting democracy) West-centrism in terms of: 1. Origins (democracy and HR both western) 2. dominant practice (democracy and HR both western) 3. Philosophical content (democracy and HR both stem from political liberalism) (8) The Historically Interdependent Development of Human Rights and Democracy [1008-1010] 1. Development in tandem of HR/democracy 2. Common agenda of HR/democracy Trial of Charles I, Virginia Declaration, etc. Invoking the UDHR (9) A Common Liberal Ontology [1010-1013] Liberalism: Individualism Egalitarianism Universalism Meliorism Both democracy and HR as tied to/founded in liberalism Liberalism/Human Rights connection as derivation/identification; Liberalism/Democracy connection as composite/syncretistic Philosophy 338 | Summer 2009 Brandon Morgan-Olsen | 8.14
Human rights as necessary for liberal democracy (If democracy, then
HR . . .) 1. Civil, political, social, cultural, group rights all important to properly functioning democracy 2. Rights providing economic preconditions for democracy (basic goods, etc.) “If you have democracy, you have human rights. While this is a convincing sense in which human rights and democracy are inseparable, and is thus a problem to the proponents of the separationist thesis, such proponents may still claim part of their original agenda. They may argue that, yes, if you want democracy you must have human rights. But do human rights necessarily entail democracy? The argument can be made that the answer is no” (1013). (10) The Necessity of Democracy for Human Rights [1014-1017] [If Human Rights, then Democracy?] Nature of a right vs. nature of a norm/standard Norm/standard does not imply substantive claim-making ability Being allowed/permitted vs. actually having a right Rights require governmental accountability/feedback mechanism from people (11) The Undesirability of Benevolent Authoritarianism [1017-1019] Benevolent dictatorship/authoritarianism is not as good as liberal democracy Trade/human rights connection (as illegitimate) (12) Conclusion [1019]