GLOBALIZATION AND HUMAN RIGHTS
Introduction
The relationship between globalization and human rights is somewhat paradoxical or
contradictory. Globalization can simultaneously strengthen and diminish the protection of
individual rights and the dignity of individuals. There has been a growing international
acceptance of human rights at normative level, but human rights violations still persist. The
concept of state sovereignty has been a major obstacle to globalization and universalization of
human rights
The meaning of globalization
The term globalization is politically loaded –it stirs emotions and drive people into “pro” and
“anti” camps. Some see globalization as a process that started with history while others see it as a
recent phenomenon. Thus lack of consensus on the meaning of globalization also affects a clear
assessment of its impact on human rights
In 1999 the UNDP in its Human rights report defined globalization as: shrinking space, shrinking
time, disappearing of borders. By this definition globalization therefore involves:
increased human mobility and interaction creating a single integrated market,
development of common norms and values
It involves deepening and broadening of rapid trans-boundary exchange ,creating an
interdependent world of many actors
Globalization has been fostered by improvement in navigational technology,
developments in technology, rapid progress in communication and information
technology and transport
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It has also been fostered by capitalism, and imperialism, the collapse of soviet union and
end of the cold war
Thus defined globalization is a process that is age old and continuous and irreversible.
Globalization has proceeded largely in two main ways:
1. Globalization that proceeds “from above”. This one is largely fostered by multinational,
international firms, World Bank, [Link] key thing here is that these organizations
control capital flows and markets and hence control the world.
2. Globalization that proceeds “from below. “This type is powered by civil society, NGOs,
activists. They are largely driven by concern for protection of human rights (individual as
well as group rights), promoting universal values about human dignity and the limit of
power the state and reduce state sovereignty. They are often in conflict with governments
particularly the one with poor record on human rights.
The Impact of Globalization on Human Rights
The impact of globalization and human rights is somewhat paradoxical or contradictory. That is
one the one hand globalization has and plays an important role in universalization of human
rights, but at the same time it has created opportunities for violation of human rights. Let’s
therefore evaluate the positive as well as the negative implications of globalization on human
rights.
Positive impact
Advancement of human rights has been [part and parcel of the globalization process,
there are set of norms and values have been recognized as universal human rights –even
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though it may not be fully accepted and implemented-universalization of human rights
itself has been part of globalization
Information flows have emboldened human rights campaigns and fostered transnational
activist networks –which have played a key role in promotion of individual and group
rights ,human dignity and limited the role of the state power
Global technology and information revolution have limited the ability of the governments
to control the right to speak, receive, transmit information within and across boundaries
Ideas and information can flow more freely as can individual- this enhances ability to
inform all people about rights and avenues for redress
It also makes it more difficult for governments to conceal human rights violations and
allows activists to mobilize shame and change of behavior in governments
Globalized markets have facilitated more monitoring of social conditions but also opened
up more opportunities that would help enhance social and economic rights
The global society has created new rules and mechanism that allow forcible intervention
to stop gross human rights violation
Negative impact
Information technology and media can also be used to violate human rights especially
when the government is weak or complicit. The Rwanda genocide is a classic example
Certain human rights are particularly threatened by globalization eg respect for privacy
and protection against personal data collection, cultural and linguistic rights may also
suffer under globalization
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Transnational migration tends to undercut human rights by creating more vulnerable non-
citizen populations-those who hold migrant work status are subjected to mistreatment and
exploitation
Globalization has also created serious power differential between states and even within
states
Globalization has created powerful non state actors such as transnational, multinational
organizations, even wealthy individuals who control enormous resources and it capital
flows
This has weakened the state as a control of capital flow and as guardian of the
public good-thus challenging state sovereignty
These non-state actors may also violate human rights in ways that were never
contemplated during the development of modern human rights movements
designed largely to restraint human rights abuses by states or their agents
Thus to opponents of globalization the non-state actors today pose the greatest
threat to human rights. For example IMF and World Bank have supported policies
that condemned millions of human beings to lives of misery and grave human
rights violations eg structural adjustment programs
Terrorism is part of the globalization process, because terror acts are carried out on behalf
of some oppressed people and their perpetrators invoke the same language and norms
and utilize the same communication and technology that form and sustain human rights
advocates [Link] whether international or local has a threefold threat to
advancement of human rights:
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Terrorist acts directly violate the rights of life and various freedoms of their
actual or potential victims.
Restrictive measures supposedly taken by the state against terrorism tend to
affect all people, especially dissident and critical voices that usually include
human rights advocates
Terrorist attacks have resuscitated-the reemergence of ideas of national security
and order as more important and hence can be maintained at the expense of
human freedoms, severely undermining gains in the area of civil and political
rights