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Does the West still value human rights in light of its dismissal of Khashoggi's death? Does the West still value human rights in light of its dismissal of Khashoggi's death?
Yes, the universal norm of human rights still holds strong in the West Yes, the universal norm of human rights still holds strong in the West
Yes, despite that Western countries and non-Western countries perceive human rights differently Yes, despite that Western countries and non-Western countries perceive human rights differently
Hard to say, because promoting human rights globally is complicated Hard to say, because promoting human rights globally is complicated
Not exactly, Western governments' positions on honouring human rights are selective Not exactly, Western governments' positions on honouring human rights are selective
No. Western governments are hypocrites on so-called belief in human rights No. Western governments are hypocrites on so-called belief in human rights
World powers unite with western countries to support global human rights World powers unite with western countries to support global human rights
Western countries have organizations that help countries that need help Western countries have organizations that help countries that need help
Countries set different goals for human rights Countries set different goals for human rights
Human rights are expressive of Western norms Human rights are expressive of Western norms
Denial of human rights obligations is difficult to punish Denial of human rights obligations is difficult to punish
The importance of civil vs cultural rights is debated The importance of civil vs cultural rights is debated
The West can't interfere in others' domestic affairs The West can't interfere in others' domestic affairs
The West compromises human rights in other countries for economic gains The West compromises human rights in other countries for economic gains
The West is threatened by economic growth in developing countries The West is threatened by economic growth in developing countries
Human rights norms were formed by the West Human rights norms were formed by the West
The west overlooks human rights for financial agreements The west overlooks human rights for financial agreements
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Does the West still value human rights in light of its dismissal of Khashoggi's death?
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Hard to say, because promoting human rights globally is complicated

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The importance of civil vs cultural rights is debated

International norms are contradicting local cultural or social values sometimes.
United States Statue Aaron David Miller
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The Argument

Cultural norms and social values vary from a country to another, which introduces difficulty balancing international civil rights and social cultural values, especially when mainly the West made the international rights.[1] The United States may find it difficult to decide when to intervene in events in other countries like Khashoggi’s death. The West tries to balance intervention to protect civil rights with the cost or risk of infringing on a country’s autonomy or limiting freedom of speech. The norms in Western countries are different from those in the East. International norms may not align or may even contradict the norms in specific places in the world. Based on these varying values, it is difficult to say whether the West has dismissed human rights. Khasoggi’s connection to the United States may or may not make it more necessary for the U.S. to intervene. Khasoggi had three U.S. citizen children while he was on an O visa and was going to apply for a Green Card. People debate whether his citizenship status and connection to the United States should make the U.S. definitely intervene in his death or whether U.S. protection only extends to its citizens. It is uncertain whether the United States has dismissed its own values.[2]

Counter arguments

The United States should have intervened in Khashoggi's death because it is a clear violation of basic human rights which should be universal and independent of social norms or values. The United States should have proceeded in its promise to conduct a deep investigation on the case. The United States ignored a congressional resolution imposing sanctions. These investigations and sanctions are necessary as part of the U.S. role because Khashoggi's death is a clear violation of human rights. Inaction or slow action means the U.S. has dismissed some of its civil rights values. [3]

Proponents

Premises

Rejecting the premises

References

  1. https://www.e-ir.info/2014/04/25/western-human-rights-in-a-diverse-world-cultural-suppression-or-relativism/#:~:text=The%20Western%20construct%20of%20human%20rights%20is%20based%20on%20the,(Donnelly%201990%2C%2043)
  2. https://qz.com/1428499/jamal-khashoggi-what-trump-owes-khashoggi-under-us-law-and-constitution/
  3. https://www.npr.org/2019/10/02/765780013/opinion-trump-and-pompeo-have-enabled-a-saudi-cover-up-of-the-khashoggi-killing
This page was last edited on Thursday, 17 Sep 2020 at 04:03 UTC

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