Do culture and claims to human rights stimulate or limit change in Essay

Do culture and claims to human rights stimulate or limit change in international order - Essay Example Realism on the other hand believe that the way that international order is achieved is through states’ pursuit of power (Bromley and Smith, 2004). Liberalism theories of transformation are especially useful for analyzing whether or not culture and claims to human rights stimulate or limit change in international order. Liberalism theories draw attention to universality and particularity. In this regard, the question for consideration is different standpoints (particularity) find commonality and thus universality in structuring international order (Bromley and Smith, 2004). Human rights in the international political order is often perceived in terms of universality, yet strands of particularity are observed. Therefore, according to cultural relativism, while it is often claimed that human rights are universal because we are all human beings, there are individual claims that what rights are applicable and inalienable depends on cultural values, beliefs and practices (Donnelly, 2007). Cultural relativism is said to be more profound with the challenges resulting from globalization and a multicultural world (Ayton-Shenker, 1995). Disparities in terms of income, access to resources, cultural clashes and so on have raised concerns about whether or not universality in the international ordering can be achieved amidst profound and divergent particularity. Ayton-Shenker (1995) argues that cultural clashes and inequitable differences threatens the international order in that societies may inevitably resort to cultivating their own cultural values and identities. This research paper will therefore use liberalism theories of transformation, especially concepts of universality and particularity to analyse whether or not culture and claims to human rights stimulate or limit change in international order. This research paper hypothesized that if cultural relativism