HUMAN-RIGHTS AND CULTURE - BEYOND UNIVERSALITY AND RELATIVISM

The modern crusade for human rights has been seen as having its founda tion in Western (European and North American) political history and cu lture. The focus on Western human rights discourse results frequently, in the dismissal of non-Western cultures, institutions, norms and his tory as anti-democratic and authoritarian, with little utility for bui lding modern human rights institutions, The authors contend that these cultures, norms etc., are of vital importance for those in non-Wester n nations who seek to protect human rights. Further, careful study of these practices may assist those in the West who now confront a more c omplex human rights debate about affirmative action, entitlements, and gender and ethnic violence. African examples are employed to illustra te the strength of traditional checks on authority find the existence of entitlements in traditional society. Further, to the extent that hu man right notions are seen as indigenous to African culture, those dem anding respect for rights can be insulated from the charge of western cultural imperialism.