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International Human Rights And Cultural Relativism, Fernando R. Tesón

Scholarly Publications

I will argue that cultural relativism cannot be reconciled with the recognition in international law of fundamental rights of the individual. Part II will demonstrate that positive international law does not recognize cultural diversity as a justification for the failure to observe human rights. In Part HI, I will argue further that ethical relativism is a philosophically untenable position. Part IV includes a brief exposition on and critique of two by-products of relativism: the elitist and conspiracy theories of human rights. Finally, Part V sets forth some general conclusions.