HUMAN RIGHTS AND SOCIAL CHANGE IN SOUTH AFRICA

In: International journal on world peace, Band 9, Heft 4, S. 23-30

Abstract

THE AUTHOR STUDIES CONCEPTIONS OF HUMAN RIGHTS IN MARXIST THEORY AND IN NON-WESTERN STATES. HE NOTES THAT THE MARXIAN CONCEPT BEARS NO RELATION TO THE LIBERAL DEMOCRATIC CONCEPTION AND THAT, IN MANY NON-WESTERN STATES, THE FICTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS IS SUSTAINED DESPITE THE GROSSEST AFFRONTS TO THE NOTION BY GOVERNMENTS IN GOOD STANDING INTERNATIONALLY. HE THEN CONSIDERS THE PROBLEM OF INSTITUTING HUMAN RIGHTS IN SOUTH AFRICA WHERE WESTERN VALUES COLLIDE WITH NON-WESTERN VALUE SYSTEMS.