Human Rights, Cultural Relativism, and Western Imperialism

Introduction: Human Rights in a Multicultural World

Political, economic, and social factors affect human rights and the perception of those rights as they are reflected in different countries and ethnic groups. While the UN created the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948, many countries — including prominent Western nations — continue to infringe on the inalienable rights that belong to every human being.

Of these human rights, those stated in Article 27 appear to be most frequently infringed upon when cultures come together in a single community, or when a country's population grows increasingly diverse. This multiculturalism should, in principle, promote peace and understanding — and in many cases it does. Nevertheless, cultural relativism issues persist within many communities, particularly in Western countries. Article 27 states, in part: "Everyone has the right freely to participate in the cultural life of the community, to enjoy the arts and to share in scientific advancement and its benefits."

Understanding Cultural Relativism

Cultural relativism is defined as the position in which all points of view and opinions are considered equally valid. What a person considers as truth is relative to that person's environment. All ethical, religious, political, and aesthetic beliefs are truths relative to the cultural identity of the individual, and these become affected by discrimination and racism in mixed-culture communities. Cultural relativism contributes to all aspects of a society — from driving laws and appropriate public attire to the broader legal frameworks that govern communities.

Case Studies: Taliban Afghanistan and Islamic Law

A clear example of the abuse of cultural relativism is the former Taliban regime in Afghanistan. By government decree, Buddhist icons were destroyed and women were subjected to a new set of laws that stripped them of their prior rights and of the basic rights enumerated in the Universal Declaration. While some may argue that cultural relativism theoretically protected Taliban culture, it should be noted that the Taliban regime removed many inalienable rights from women, including the right to education. By enforcing new "cultural" laws in Afghanistan, the Taliban abused the existing culture of the Afghan people and therefore committed crimes against cultural relativism within the country.

Another example of cultural relativism in practice concerns Muslim-majority countries. Many such countries govern themselves under Sharia law — that is, law based on the principles of the Quran. Even where outsiders may disagree with specific aspects of this legal system, it is traditional to many Middle Eastern countries and provides a framework of justice within those societies. It is also a legal system that expatriates living in Middle Eastern countries must respect, regardless of how justice operates in their home country. Nevertheless, when a person breaks the law, his or her human rights must still be upheld as stated in Article 11, regardless of religious beliefs, race, sex, or nationality. Article 11 states, in part: "(1) Everyone charged with a penal offence has the right to be presumed innocent until proved guilty according to law in a public trial at which he has had all the guarantees necessary for his defence. (2) No one shall be held guilty of any penal offence on account of any act or omission which did not constitute a penal offence, under national or international law, at the time when it was committed."

Western Imperialism and Its Human Rights Implications

One political and economic factor that appears to conflict with Islamic law and with many broader human rights concerns is Western imperialism. Throughout the 19th century, many Western countries — Great Britain among the most prominent — expanded their territories and subjected local communities to their own cultures and beliefs. India offers a clear illustration: though now an independent country, it still bears visible traces of English culture alongside its own traditions and beliefs.

In contemporary discourse, Western imperialism has appeared increasingly in media debates as analysts assess the rise of U.S. foreign policy as a return to imperial patterns. Western imperialism evokes a long history of human rights abuses, including racism and the dismantling of cultural autonomy and sovereignty. In countries like Iraq, this history has become the foundation for current attitudes and opinions — reminding many Iraqis that an external power continues to seek control over their affairs and to exploit their natural resources.

Economic development is a major contributing factor to any form of imperialism. With the presence of globalization bearing down on many countries, individuals increasingly feel that their rights to freedom, choice, and self-determination are being compromised in the interest of monetary growth — and greed — on the part of a handful of Western nations, principally the United States and Great Britain. Many attitudes toward these countries are shaped by the legacy of prior imperialism and its resurgence in the present day.

Conclusion: Advocating for Cultural Autonomy and Human Rights

The advocacy of human rights is an issue still relevant all over the world. There is not a single country that can safely argue that its policies and laws do not impose on any articles in the Universal Declaration, or on another's culture and beliefs. Nevertheless, the only path forward requires individuals to strive to ensure that their human rights remain intact — and to persuade their governments to respect cultural autonomy and to resist suppressive forces such as unchecked globalization and Western imperialism, which too often abuse individuals, societies, and communities.