"Are Human Rights Universal?"

Paper Summary:

This paper reviews the article "Are Human Rights Universal?", by Shashi Tharoor. The paper discusses the concepts raised by Tharoor, that the Western World takes basic human rights, such as access to clean water and the right to avoid torture in times of conflict, for granted. The paper then goes on to discuss if the West is able to preserve human rights against threats.

From the Paper:

"Review of the Article "Are Human Rights Universal?" In Shashi Tharoor's article "Are Human Rights Universal?" the author raises a series of difficult and unpleasant topics on the concept of human rights. The author begins the piece in pointing out the truism that the majority of those residing in the West tend to consider human rights to be a basic aspect of life; all human beings are accorded basic principles that ensure their personal welfare and well-being, such as access to clean water and the right to avoid undue circumstances in times of conflict, such as torture. However, Tharoor points out that the very concept that there is such a thing as basic human rights is embedded within the Western lifestyle; the peoples of the world do not tend to have the philosophical perspective necessary to consider the possibility of basic human rights for all, let along the mechanisms through which to preserve them against threats."

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