Human Rights in Cross-Cultural Perspectives: A Quest for Consensus Edited by Abdullahi Ahmed An-Na’im SE Prepared by: Dr. Caroline (Kay) Picart Assistant Professor of English Courtesy Assistant Professor of Law Florida State University

Aims: To arrive at a complex characterization of a “cross-cultural” approach to the theory and practice of universal human rights To excavate the implicit characterizations of the “international human body” in these texts

Introduction Abdullahi Ahmed An Na’im

Questions: What hampers the implementation/promotion of the vision of universal human rights? How is the international human body implicitly characterized by this vision of human rights?

Questions: How does An-Na’im characterize “culture”? Do you agree or disagree with this characterization, and why?

Discussion Question: Discuss how effectively An-Na’im negotiates the challenges of cultural relativism and cultural totalitarianism.

Toward a Cross-Cultural Approach to Defining International Standards of Human Rights Abdullahi Ahmed An-Na’im

Question: What is An-Na’im’s general thesis? How is the international human body characterized both as an ideal, and as a current reality?

Question: How does An-Na’im see his approach in relation to past efforts to deal with the problem of cultural relativism in relation to international human rights?

Discussion Questions: What is ethnocentricity? Is it a moral evil that must be rooted out in the search for human rights, according to An-Na’im? Do you agree with An- Na’im that “enlightened ethnocentricity” is the same as “cultural relativism”?

Discussion Question: Critique the following statement. “The least common denominator of the universality of morality must include some of its basic precepts and not be confined to the mere existence of some form of morality. Moreover, in accordance with the logic of cultural relativism, the shared moral values must be authentic and not imposed from the outside. As indicated earlier, the existing least common denominator may not be enough to accommodate certain vital human rights. This fact would suggest the need to broaden and deepen common values to support these human rights” (25).

Discussion Question: Critique the following statement. “The validity of cross-cultural judgment increases with the degree of universality of the values upon which it is based; further, the efficacy of action increases with the degree of the actor’s sensitivity to the internal logic and frame of reference of other cultures” (26).

Question: Does this statement constitute a tautology? “No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.”

Question How does An-Na’im justify punishment according to Islamic law?

Cultural Foundations for the International Protection of Human Rights Richard Falk

Question: What does Falk find wrong with both these jurisprudential methods?

Question: Does Falk think that intercultural communication regarding human rights is possible? Why or why not?

Question: Walker contends: “From the South Bronx to Beirut, from the proliferation of refugee camps to the persistence of apartheid, the intolerable is always visible to those who would nevertheless celebrate the achievements of the modern world” (p. 50). What does Falk think about this? What do you think?

Question: How does Falk view An-Naim’s approach in comparison with Kothari’s and Sethi’s approaches to human rights?

Question: Which approach does Falk advocate? Do you agree or disagree and why or why not?

Question: Do you agree or disagree with the following statement, and why: “The point, however, is that virtually any cultural heritage is morally rich enough that it can, if appropriately construed, under some circumstances make inspirational contributions to the struggle for human rights, democracy and social justice” (54).

Discussion Question: Discuss the complexities of the relationship between the state and human rights implementations.

Question Does Falk advocate human rights issues over issues of national sovereignty? Why or why not? Do you agree or disagree?

Question: How does Falk view the furor over Salman Rushdie’s The Satanic Verses? Do you agree or disagree? Why or why not?

Question: What are Falk’s final recommendations regarding the search for universal human rights? Do you agree or disagree, and why or why not?

“Making a Goddess of Democracy from Loose Sand: Thoughts on Human Rights in the People’s Republic of China” William P. Alford

Question: What is Alford’s main thesis?

Questions: What myths did the American media propagate regarding PRC’s pro-democracy movement? How does Alford regard these myths?

Question: What is the historical and cultural context of the emergence of human rights consciousness in PRC?

Questions: Discuss the complexities of PRC’s one-child policy, according to Alford. Do you agree or disagree and why or why not?

Questions: What are Alford’s conclusions re. the PRC and human rights? Do you agree or disagree and why or why not?

“Dignity, Community & Human Rights” Rhoda E. Howard

Questions: What is Howard’s thesis? Do you agree or disagree and why or why not?

Questions: How does Howard characterize human rights vs. collective rights? Do you agree or disagree and why or why not?

Questions: How does Howard characterize “dignity”? What case study does she use in order to illustrate the difference between a human right and a collective right? Do you agree/disagree and why or why not?

Questions: How does Howard characterize “Justice”? Give an example of a case study she cites. Do you agree or disagree? Why or why not?

Questions: What is a human being, according to Howard? Do you agree/disagree and why? How does Howard characterize the moral order? Critique this.

Questions: How does Howard view torture? Do you agree or not, and why or why not?

Questions: How does Howard view cultural relativism in relation to human rights? Do you agree or disagree and why or why not?

Questions: According to Howard, what factors helped in the development of the modern conception of human rights? Do you agree/disagree? Why or why not?

Questions: Does Howard think that living in a democratic, liberal society guarantees the implementation of human rights? Critique this position.

Questions: What does Howard think about collective rights? What case studies does she give as examples to illustrate her critique? Do you agree/disagree and why or why not?

Questions: What are Howard’s final conclusions? Critique/respond to her main conclusions, justifying your answers carefully. How does the “international human body” emerge from her conclusions?

Source: An-Na’im, Abdullahi Ahmed. Ed. Human Rights in Cross-Cultural Perspectives Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press, 1992.