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If democracy, then human rights?

If democracy, then human rights?
If democracy, then human rights?
At the beginning of the twenty-first century, democracy and human rights are usually thought of as symbiotic. It follows from this that the promotion of democracy as the only legitimate form of government inevitably supports claims for universal human rights. This article discusses this claim, with particular reference to efforts to promote democracy in less developed states. It begins by identifying the central features of democracy and placing them within the critical context of globalisation. It then moves to question the symbiotic assumption, first, through a discussion on democracy and global order and, second, through a discussion of development and human rights. The conclusion to be drawn from these discussions suggests that democracy promotion has more to do with global economic interests than with delivering human rights to the poor and excluded in less developed countries.
0143-6597
623-642
Evans, Tony
2dc99480-b1d1-4a24-b9c8-8521299b4f16
Evans, Tony
2dc99480-b1d1-4a24-b9c8-8521299b4f16

Evans, Tony (2001) If democracy, then human rights? Third World Quarterly, 22 (4), 623-642. (doi:10.1080/01436590120071812).

Record type: Article

Abstract

At the beginning of the twenty-first century, democracy and human rights are usually thought of as symbiotic. It follows from this that the promotion of democracy as the only legitimate form of government inevitably supports claims for universal human rights. This article discusses this claim, with particular reference to efforts to promote democracy in less developed states. It begins by identifying the central features of democracy and placing them within the critical context of globalisation. It then moves to question the symbiotic assumption, first, through a discussion on democracy and global order and, second, through a discussion of development and human rights. The conclusion to be drawn from these discussions suggests that democracy promotion has more to do with global economic interests than with delivering human rights to the poor and excluded in less developed countries.

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Published date: 1 August 2001
Organisations: Politics & International Relations

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Local EPrints ID: 35257
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/35257
ISSN: 0143-6597
PURE UUID: a083398c-2091-49fc-a0d7-c65f142dd117

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Date deposited: 18 May 2006
Last modified: 15 Mar 2024 07:51

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Author: Tony Evans

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