Transcript Sociology 2: International Sociology

Political Globalization at the
Personal Level
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Given priority of nation-states, the
world polity affirms citizenship status
The world polity also renders persons
as individuals with human rights
Before Human Rights…
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The Holocaust was justified by claiming
that the victims were Untermenschen, or
“subhumans,” who were biologically
inferior and a threat to the Aryan race.
To its perpetrators, the Holocaust
promised to create a better race by
eliminating the “unfit” (eugenics).
Before Human Rights…
Yale Study of U.S. Eugenics Policy
(Chicago Trib 2/15/00 by D. Morgan)
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U.S. doctors once believed that sterilization could
help rid society of mental illness and crime. They
launched a 20th-century eugenics movement that
in some ways paralleled Nazi policies.
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The eugenics movement aimed to improve
society through selective breeding. Research
indicates that state-authorized sterilizations were
carried out on a large scale over many decades
in the U.S., beginning with the first state eugenics
law in Indiana in 1907.
Before Human Rights…
Eugenics in U.S.
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Sterilization laws authorized the neutering
of more than 40,000 “feebleminded” or
“insane” people in the U.S. by 1944.
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Another 22,000 were sterilized 1945-63,
despite revelations of Nazi atrocities.
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Forced sterilization was legal in 18 states.
1948 Universal Declaration of
Human Rights
1. All human beings are born free and equal in dignity
and rights. They are endowed with reason and
conscience and should act towards one another in a
spirit of brotherhood.
2. Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms
set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of
any kind, such as race, color, sex, language, religion,
political or other opinion, national or social origin,
property, birth or other status. Furthermore, no
distinction shall be made on the basis of the political,
jurisdictional or international status of the country or
Universal Declaration of Human
Rights (Civil)
3. Everyone has the right to life, liberty
and security of person.
5. No one shall be subjected to torture or
to cruel, inhuman or degrading
treatment or punishment.
Universal Declaration of
Human Rights (Political)
21. (1) Everyone has the right to take part in
the government of his country, directly or
through freely chosen representatives. (2)
Everyone has the right of equal access to
public service in his country. (3) The will of
the people shall be the basis of the authority of
government; this will shall be expressed in
periodic and genuine elections which shall be
by universal and equal suffrage and shall be
held by secret vote or by equivalent free voting
procedures.
Universal Declaration of
Human Rights (Social)
25. (1) Everyone has the right to a
standard of living adequate for the
health and well-being of himself and of
his family, including food, clothing,
housing and medical care and necessary
social services, and the right to security
in… unemployment, sickness, disability,
widowhood, old age or other lack of
livelihood in circumstances beyond his
control….
Amnesty Int’l – Human Rights
Action Appeals (8/09-10/09)
-Demand justice for killing of journalist in Mexico
-Call on chemical company to address the legacy
of Bhopal
-Upholding human rights while confronting climate
change
-Denied protection in Turkey - refugees unlawfully
detained
-Seven more ratifications needed for Enforced
Disappearance Convention to enter into force
-Sudanese authorities must abolish the
punishment of flogging and repeal discriminatory
laws