Human Rights and The Age of Inequality

-        Samuel Moyn

This essay is about mismatch between the egalitarian  crisis and human rights solution. At the beginning of the essay, he presents a story of Croesus (last king of Lydia). The wealthy king thought himself as happiest of human beings. He wanted to remove his citizen's unhappiness without investing his wealth. Later on, his wealth was captured by Persian King Cyrus. He lost the war with the king.

By using this story, the writer wants to show inequality in the modern world. There is a vast gap between rich and poor people in the world. We celebrate the international human right day on 10th of December but we do nothing to create equality of resources among people of the world. Distributive equality can solve this problem but it is not possible in practical life.

The essayist presents two big stages of human rights history. They are heroic age (world war II) and time when political economy ascended age (1940s).

The situation became even worse in the scenario of human rights after 1940. It followed favouritism after 1940. It divided the world into two groups. They are US led democratic nations and USSR led communist nations groups. As a result, it brought the cold war. The scenario after decolonization didn't bring any progress in the case of development and human rights. The agenda of 'national welfare' became popular than egalitarian human rights.

The writer mentions Herodotus ideas about redistribution of global socio-economic justice. He believes that it will help to transfer wealth from rich to poor. Human rights guarantee equal freedom and rights to all but in reality, it is not applied in the real situation. It always remains inside documents. So, socio political structure and present economy should be changed to alter the scenario. Fair distribution of wealth, redistribution of means and resources, creativity, fair distribution of wealth, implementing the previous laws are necessary to establish human rights. In the same way, radical movements can boost the scenario of human rights.

 


 Understanding the text

Answer the following questions.

a.      What is the first human rights declaration adopted by the United Nations?

Ans:-  The first human rights declaration adopted by the United Nations is mobilization for economic and social rights.

b.     When is Human Rights Day observed?

Ans: Human Rights Day is observed on 10th December every year.

c.      What is the goal of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights?

Ans: The goal of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights is to provide a list of the most basic entitlements or key values like fairness, dignity, equality and respect that humans deserve thanks to being human itself. Furthermore, its aim is to assert the ” foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the in the world.”

D. What are two big stages that involve writing the history of human rights in relation to that of political economy?

Ans:  The two big stages that involve writing the history of human  rights in relation to that of political economy are:

The heroic age of national welfare after World War II.

The bitter enemies of the new cold war era in 1948.

d.     What are the facts that have been missed in Roosevelt’s call for a “second Bill of Rights”?

Ans:  The facts that have been missed in Roosevelt’s call for a “second Bill of Rights” are:

First, it marked a characteristically provincial America’s Late and ginger entry into an already foreordained North Atlantic consensus.

Second, his highest promise was not a floor of protection for the masses but the end of “special privileges for the few” –  a ceiling on inequality.

Lastly, Roosevelt certainly hoped it would span the globe but it was organized nationally, not internationally.

e.      Write the truth expressed in Herodotus’s Histories.

Ans: The truth expressed in Herodotus’ Histories is that global socio-economic justice, like local socio-economic justice, would require redistribution under pressure from the rich to the poor by novel forms of legal activism.

f.       Why is the Universal Declaration of Human Rights important to you?

Ans: The Universal Declaration of Human Rights is important to me as it works in favour of all human beings for their rights, justice, equality, equity by removing partiality, injustice, inequality, discrimination, and so on from society.

 

 Reference to the Context

a.      Does the essay give ways on how to stigmatize inequality? Explain.

Ans:  The essay “Human Rights and the Age of Inequality” don’t give some specific ways on how to stigmatize inequality but it talks about the stigmatization of inequality. Most of all, history suggests that they are the wrong kind of agent; not fearful enough to provoke redistribution. If inequality grows like this, opponents will arise some days. Therefore, it is better to maintain equality and justice in society. By forming new sort of human rights movement for the sake of the common people, social equality and liberation can be justified. Proper supervision and monitoring, support of stakeholders, enacting strict laws, removing partiality and maintain justice and equality etc. are necessary for the humanitarian behalf of the all human beings. Inequality is believed to be as a stigma for the society as it creates tussle and conflicts among the people so proper balance for it is required.

b.     Is another human rights movement necessary? Why?

Ans: Yes, another human rights movement is necessary as the essayist finds Human Rights is functioning under political suppression constrained in human affairs. He wishes to see another Human rights movement in the coming days due to following reasons:

People who are in powerful positions found violating the laws.

Inequality has been contained in human affairs.

Nepotism and favouritism is still in practice.

Law is to be given top priority.

Political and social hegemony is still prevalent in the world.

Laws and rights are only documented rather it is not in practice.

There is need of rights and justice for all human beings whether they are rich or poor, belong to upper class or lower class.

 [SR1]Characterized by social equality and equal rights for all people.   (syn. equalitarian)