Class - 12 English
Unit 3 Essays
Chapter - 5 Human Rights and the Age of Inequality
Samuel Moyn
Solutions..........
Summary
In his essay "Human Rights and the Age of Inequality", Samuel Moyn argues that human rights discourse has become increasingly popular in recent decades as a response to growing economic inequality. He suggests that while human rights may have been intended to address political and civil liberties, they have been adopted as a way to respond to economic inequalities as well.
Moyn traces the development of human rights discourse from the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948 to the present day. He suggests that the declaration was primarily focused on ensuring political and civil liberties, and was not intended to address economic inequalities. However, as economic inequality has grown in recent decades, human rights discourse has increasingly been used to address economic issues such as poverty, inequality, and access to healthcare and education.
Moyn suggests that this shift towards an economic focus in human rights discourse has been driven by a number of factors, including the decline of traditional left-wing politics, the rise of neoliberalism, and the growing awareness of the impact of economic inequality on individuals and societies. He argues that while human rights may be an important tool for addressing economic inequality, they are not a substitute for more traditional economic policies, such as wealth redistribution.
Overall, Moyn's essay suggests that while human rights may be an important tool for addressing economic inequality, they are not a panacea for the problems of inequality and poverty. He suggests that more traditional economic policies will also be necessary to address these issues, and that human rights discourse should be understood as part of a broader effort to create more just and equitable societies.
Answer the following questions.
a. What is the first human rights declaration adopted by the United Nations?
Answer 👉 The first human rights declaration adopted by the United Nations is the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
b. When is Human Rights Day observed?
Answer 👉 Human Rights Day is observed on December 10th every year.
c. What is the goal of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights?
Answer 👉 The goal of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights is to establish a common standard of fundamental human rights that should be universally protected and respected.
d. What are two big stages that involve writing the history of human rights in relation to that of political economy?
Answer 👉 The two big stages that involve writing the history of human rights in relation to that of political economy are the period after World War II, which saw the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and the period of neoliberalism in the 1980s and 1990s, which saw the increased use of human rights discourse to address economic inequality.
e. What are the facts that have been missed in Roosevelt’s call for a “second Bill of Rights”?
Answer 👉 Some of the facts that have been missed in Roosevelt's call for a "second Bill of Rights" include the fact that the rights he proposed were not legally binding and did not have the support of all members of the US government. Additionally, the focus on economic rights may have distracted from other important human rights issues, such as civil and political liberties.
f. Write the truth expressed in Herodotus’s Histories.
Answer 👉 The truth expressed in Herodotus's Histories is that the world is a diverse and complex place, and that there is no one way of life or set of beliefs that is inherently superior to others.
g. Why is the Universal Declaration of Human Rights important to you?
Answer 👉 The Universal Declaration of Human Rights is important to me because it provides a framework for understanding and protecting fundamental human rights, such as freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and the right to a fair trial. It also serves as a reminder that all individuals have inherent dignity and worth, and that these should be respected and protected by all.
Reference to the context
a. Does the essay give ways on how to stigmatize inequality? Explain.
Answer 👉 In his essay "Human Rights and the Age of Inequality," Samuel Moyn suggests that human rights discourse has been increasingly adopted as a way to address economic inequality. However, he also suggests that human rights are not a substitute for more traditional economic policies, such as wealth redistribution. In other words, while human rights may be an important tool for stigmatizing inequality, they are not sufficient on their own.
Moyn suggests that in order to effectively stigmatize inequality, a broader effort is needed that goes beyond human rights discourse. He suggests that this effort should include traditional economic policies, such as progressive taxation and social welfare programs. He also suggests that social movements and grassroots activism will be necessary to bring about meaningful change.
Additionally, Moyn suggests that a broader cultural shift is needed to stigmatize inequality. This might involve a reevaluation of the value systems that underpin our economic and political systems, as well as a greater emphasis on empathy and solidarity. In short, Moyn suggests that stigmatizing inequality will require a multi-faceted approach that involves political, economic, and cultural changes.
b. Is another human rights movement necessary? Why?
Answer 👉 In his essay, Samuel Moyn suggests that the human rights movement has increasingly focused on economic inequality in recent decades. However, he also suggests that human rights discourse is not a substitute for more traditional economic policies, such as wealth redistribution. Moyn suggests that a more comprehensive approach is needed to address economic inequality, which would include both human rights discourse and traditional economic policies.
Moyn also suggests that social movements and grassroots activism will be necessary to bring about meaningful change. He suggests that a new human rights movement may be needed to address the challenges of economic inequality, but emphasizes that this movement should be understood as part of a broader effort to create more just and equitable societies.
In short, while Moyn does not explicitly call for a new human rights movement, he suggests that the challenges of economic inequality require a more comprehensive and multi-faceted approach that includes both human rights discourse and traditional economic policies, as well as social movements and cultural changes. Whether this requires a new human rights movement or not is a matter of debate, but it is clear that addressing economic inequality will require a broad and sustained effort.
Reference beyond the text
a. What are the challenges in maintaining human rights in Nepal?
Nepal is a country that has struggled with human rights issues for decades, due in part to a history of conflict, political instability, and social inequality. One of the most significant challenges to maintaining human rights in Nepal is the legacy of the country's decade-long civil war, which ended in 2006. During this period, both the Nepali government and Maoist insurgents committed widespread human rights abuses, including extrajudicial killings, disappearances, and torture.
While the conflict officially ended with a peace agreement, human rights abuses have continued in the years since. One major challenge has been ensuring accountability for past abuses. Although both the government and Maoist rebels committed serious violations during the war, few perpetrators have been brought to justice. This has led to a culture of impunity in which human rights violations continue to occur with little consequence.
Another challenge to maintaining human rights in Nepal is the country's ongoing political instability. Nepal has struggled to establish a stable government since the end of the monarchy in 2008, with frequent changes in leadership and ongoing disputes between political parties. This has made it difficult to implement policies that promote human rights, and has also created an environment in which corruption and abuse of power are common.
Social inequality is also a major challenge to maintaining human rights in Nepal. The country is characterized by significant economic, social, and cultural disparities, with marginalized groups such as Dalits, women, and ethnic minorities facing discrimination and exclusion. This has made it difficult to ensure equal access to basic human rights such as education, healthcare, and economic opportunity.
In recent years, there have been some positive developments in Nepal's human rights landscape, including the establishment of a Truth and Reconciliation Commission to investigate past abuses, and the adoption of a new constitution in 2015 that includes provisions for human rights protections. However, significant challenges remain, and ongoing efforts are needed to ensure that human rights are respected and protected in Nepal.
All Class 12 English Book Solution Link Unitwise
Section I : Language Development
Section II : Literature
Unit - 1 Short Stories
Unit - 2 Poems
Unit - 3 Essays
Unit - 4 One Act Plays
