Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Are (Should) Human Rights (Be) Universal?, Rhoda E. Howard-Hassmann

Political Science Faculty Publications

Many critics of the concept of human rights argue that it undermines indigenous cultures, especially in the underdeveloped world. I agree that the concept of human rights often undermines cultures. Culture rapture is often a necessary aspect of the entrenchment of respect for human rights. Culture is not of absolute ethical value; if certain aspects of particular cultures change because citizens prefer to focus on human rights, then that is a perfectly acceptable price to pay. Human rights are rights held by the individual, without regard to status or position, merely because she or he is human. In principle, all …