Human Rights and the Age of Inequality : Samuel Moyn | Exercise | Class 12 English Literature

Human Rights and the Age of Inequality

Samuel Moyn

Summary:

This essay “Human Rights and the Age of Inequality” has been written by an American writer Samuel Moyn. Here in this essay, Samuel Moyn deals with the drastic mismatch between the egalitarian crisis and the human rights remedy that demands not a substitute but a supplement. He points out that the human rights regime and movement are simply not equipped to challenge global inequalities.

The writer begins his essay with a parable where he has presented an example of Croesus (the last king of Lydia (reigned 560–546). According to the writer, Croesus was a very wealthy king who considered himself the happiest of mortals. He wanted his citizens should be happy and free from all kinds of suffering. But he had a problem, he did not want to invest his money to eradicate the sufferings of his people. He had collected a lot of wealth for himself but after being defeated, his whole possession, as well as wealth, was controlled by the Persian king Cyrus the Great and his army.

Later, the writer links this situation of Croesus with the modern world where inequality exists and available means and resources are unequally distributed. The writer says that every year 10th December is celebrated as Human Rights Day, but no step has been taken for equal access to rights and property between rich and poor in the world. There is only one solution to all these kinds of obstacles as distributive equality but he feels that this is almost impossible in practical life or reality.

The writer mentions writing the history of human rights with that of political economy. Here, there is the involvement of two big stages- The first was the heroic age of the national welfare states after World War II.

The second was the political economy ascended beyond the nation during the 1940s. Franklin Roosevelt issued his famous call for a “Second Bill of Rights” that included socio-economic security in his State of the Union but it missed three most important facts: the entry of a provincial US into the North Atlantic consensus; the promise of freedom from desire; And imagining it everywhere in the world.

Human rights suffered greatly after the 1940s as it followed partisanship and divided the world into two groups, referring to the democratic nations led by the US and the communist nations led by the USSR, which resulted in the Cold War. Similarly, the disintegration of the world during the post-war era could not bring about the desired development and human rights among nations as these states favoured ‘national welfare’ instead of supporting egalitarian human rights.

Samuel Moyn reflects on the issue of whether or not another human rights movement is necessary and then exemplifies the truth and reality described in Herodotus’ chronicles that deal with the need for a redistribution of global socioeconomic justice under pressure from the rich to the poor.

Although human rights activists argue that human rights documents claim and assure equal freedoms and rights to human beings, in reality, this does not apply in current real-life situations. Unless this current economy and socio-political structure exist, man will not have basic and useful freedoms and true rights. Thus, a fair share of the distribution of wealth and property from the rich to the poor, redistribution of means and resources, law-making and enforcement of the fair distribution of wealth by the government and egalitarian society requires large-scale and radical movements. However, all of these are impractical and inappropriate and very difficult to happen in reality.

Above all, our common destiny is like a world of Croesus, where the rich enjoy happiness, freedom and everything to the maximum level like the colonists in the British Raj, while the poor live in a world of illusion with their floating equality and Independence.

Understanding the text

1. What is the first human rights declaration adopted by the United Nations?

   Ans: The first human rights declaration adopted by the United Nations is mobilization for economic and social rights.

2. When is Human Rights Day observed?

   Ans: Human rights day is observed on 10th December every year.

3. What is the goal of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights?

   Ans: The goal of the Universal Declaration of human rights is to assure the most basic entitlements and key values of human welfare and rights like equality, dignity, freedom, fairness and respect. Also, its goal is to assert justice and peace in the world alongside the foundation of freedom.

4. What are two big stages that involve writing the history of human rights about that of political economy?

   Ans: The two big stages that involve writing the history of human rights about that of the political economy include the heroic age of national welfare after the condition of World War II and the bitter enemies of the new cold war era in 1948.

5. What are the facts that have been missed in Roosevelt’s call for a “second Bill of Rights”?

   Ans: The facts that have been missed in Roosevelt’s call for a “second Bill of rights” are:

   • It marked a provincial America’s late and ginger entry into a North Atlantic consensus which is already foreordained.
   • His highest promise was “special privileges for the few” instead of protection of masses which creates a ceiling of inequality.
   • He hoped that it would span the globe but it was organized nationally instead of organizing internationally.

6. Write the truth expressed in Herodotus’s Histories.

   Ans: The truth expressed in Herodotus’ histories is to assure global socio-economic justice, local socio-economic justice. it would require redistribution from rich to poor by novel forms of legal activism.

7. Why is the Universal Declaration of Human Rights important to you?

   Ans: The universal declaration of human rights is important to me as it assures the basic rights of humans and provides justice, equality, equity for all human beings equally. it aimed to remove injustice, partiality, discrimination, inequality and so many inhuman behaviors from society.

Reference to the context

1. Does the essay give ways on how to stigmatize inequality? Explain.

   Ans: The essay “human rights and age of inequality” written by Samuel Moyn is the essay briefing about how the concept of human rights arises and what it brought to human welfare. The essay focuses on the stigmatization of inequality rather than giving some specific ways how to stigmatize inequality. History shows us that there are wrong kinds of agents who are not fearful enough to provoke redistribution. Surely, opponents will arise someday if inequality grows like this.

   Thus the need for justice and equality is in demand. so the new human rights movement sorted of different views for the common people can bring and justify social equality and liberation. it is very necessary to remove partiality and discrimination by proper supervision, monitoring and enacting strict laws. For the welfare of common people and all human beings, inequality must be removed as it is believed to be a stigma for society.

2. Is another human rights movement necessary? Why?

   Ans: In my opinion, another human rights movement is necessary. Also as the essayist finds human rights is functioning under different political and economical suppression, I also agree on that point. He wishes to see other human rights movements in the coming days due to many reasons. The people with political and economical power and in higher positions are violating the law. In human affairs, inequality has been contained. The practice of nepotism and favoritism is still in use and it has suppressed different new ideas and talents. More than that political and social hegemony is still prevalent. Laws and rights are only documented rather than taken into practice. And the major thing is the classification of society based on their economic conditions like rich or poor has brought injustice and inequality. Thus the need for another human rights movement is true.

Reference beyond the text

1. What are the challenges in maintaining human rights in Nepal?

   Human rights are the basic rights and freedoms that belong to everyone. International law, including treaties, contain the provisions which give human rights legal effect.

   Human rights was established in the year 2000 as a statutory body under the Human Rights Commission Act 1997 (2053 BS) in Nepal. The interim Constitution of Nepal 2007 (2063 BS) made the NHRC a constitutional body.

   The main challenging factors in maintaining human rights in Nepal are as follows:

   • Poverty (particularly in rural areas)
   • Education disparities
   • Gender inequality
   • Health issues
   • Child rights violations
   • Misuse of power
   • Nepotism, corruption, bribery, illiteracy and ignorance of people
   • Priority for the personal benefits or favor
   • Lack of proper mechanism to systematize policies
   • Lack of proper strategies to implement the rules of laws etc.