Universal vs. Cultural Relativism Debate
Universal Cultural Relativism
Definition Definition
All humans should have the rights irrespective Are ‘universal’ human rights possible in a socio-
of social identity, nationality, place of residence culturally diverse world?
etc. Radical CR – culture is the sole source of moral
Radical U – culture is irrelevant to moral rights rights and rules
and rules; gives absolute priority to the Strong CR – culture is the principal source;
demands of the cosmopolitan moral accepts some universally applied moral rules
community Weak CR – culture may be an important source;
accepts a comprehensive set of universal
human rights
UDHR Example – FGM
‘All humans beings are born free and equal in CR – Tradition – symbolic of virginity and purity;
dignity and rights’ – tied to us from birth a ‘rite of passage’
U – Criticism – a patriarchal practice; abuse;
Case for Universalism many health consequences for the girls that
Provide a standard by which we can all be undergo it; HR violation
judged
Allows collective action when human rights MacIntyre (1995)
violations are committed We cannot judge other cultures around the
Provides a legitimate moral force to prevent a world by our standards – they have lived
global state of nature (e.g. genocide) happily for a long time following their
traditions, e.g. tribal cultures
Donnelly (2003)
Basis for standing up against discrimination Talbot (2002)
Universal human rights norms and standards Universalism fails to reflect the diversity of
must be agreed upon through dialogue, not views in the world
imposition – there is still a place to respect Universalism only reflects the views of Western
cultural values and particularities liberal democracies
Universalism reflects ethnocentrism and
Moral Cowardice cultural imperialism – ‘arrogant cultural
Failure to act or speak out against human rights imperialist’
violations abroad on the grounds of cultural
relativism Using UDHR to promote own political agenda
Said 2003 Iraq War – Bush made false claims of
Tradition used as an excuse for human rights nuclear weapons and claims of human rights
violations violations to invade Iraq – resulted in huge
e.g. Malawi President Hastings Kamuzu Banda’s civilian casualties, mainly Iraqis
use of “traditional courts” to deal with political Hardt and Negri USA as dominant superpower
opponents – Banda appoints all five judges and – decide what HR are being abused and which
three tribal chiefs and no defence attorney wars it wants to fight
allowed
Internal Evaluation vs. External Evaluation
IE – asks whether the practice is defensible
within the basic value framework of that
society
EE – applies the standards of the evaluator to
decide whether the practice can be accepted or
Universal Cultural Relativism
Definition Definition
All humans should have the rights irrespective Are ‘universal’ human rights possible in a socio-
of social identity, nationality, place of residence culturally diverse world?
etc. Radical CR – culture is the sole source of moral
Radical U – culture is irrelevant to moral rights rights and rules
and rules; gives absolute priority to the Strong CR – culture is the principal source;
demands of the cosmopolitan moral accepts some universally applied moral rules
community Weak CR – culture may be an important source;
accepts a comprehensive set of universal
human rights
UDHR Example – FGM
‘All humans beings are born free and equal in CR – Tradition – symbolic of virginity and purity;
dignity and rights’ – tied to us from birth a ‘rite of passage’
U – Criticism – a patriarchal practice; abuse;
Case for Universalism many health consequences for the girls that
Provide a standard by which we can all be undergo it; HR violation
judged
Allows collective action when human rights MacIntyre (1995)
violations are committed We cannot judge other cultures around the
Provides a legitimate moral force to prevent a world by our standards – they have lived
global state of nature (e.g. genocide) happily for a long time following their
traditions, e.g. tribal cultures
Donnelly (2003)
Basis for standing up against discrimination Talbot (2002)
Universal human rights norms and standards Universalism fails to reflect the diversity of
must be agreed upon through dialogue, not views in the world
imposition – there is still a place to respect Universalism only reflects the views of Western
cultural values and particularities liberal democracies
Universalism reflects ethnocentrism and
Moral Cowardice cultural imperialism – ‘arrogant cultural
Failure to act or speak out against human rights imperialist’
violations abroad on the grounds of cultural
relativism Using UDHR to promote own political agenda
Said 2003 Iraq War – Bush made false claims of
Tradition used as an excuse for human rights nuclear weapons and claims of human rights
violations violations to invade Iraq – resulted in huge
e.g. Malawi President Hastings Kamuzu Banda’s civilian casualties, mainly Iraqis
use of “traditional courts” to deal with political Hardt and Negri USA as dominant superpower
opponents – Banda appoints all five judges and – decide what HR are being abused and which
three tribal chiefs and no defence attorney wars it wants to fight
allowed
Internal Evaluation vs. External Evaluation
IE – asks whether the practice is defensible
within the basic value framework of that
society
EE – applies the standards of the evaluator to
decide whether the practice can be accepted or
