The relationship between democracy and human rights has been extensively discussed by political theorists. Part of the issue is that both "democracy" and "human rights" are contested concepts whose exact definition and scope is subject to ongoing dispute. Views include human rights as an integral part of democracy, human rights requiring democracy, and mutual support between both concepts.
Background
Most scholars argue that human rights emerged from the citizenship rights held by individuals by virtue of being citizens in a polity, which were eventually universalized as human rights, held by all humans. Over time, people used the language of rights to articulate and secure a wider-ranging range of concerns. Todd Landman writes, "there is much overlap between democracy and human rights, as both are grounded in shared principles of accountability, individual integrity, fair and equal representation, inclusion and participation and non-violent solutions to conflict".
Democracy as a human right
Protocol 1, Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights guarantees the right to vote in free and fair elections. However, not all writers accept that democracy is a human right.
Human rights as necessary to democracy
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A limited protection of civil and political rights is necessary for a democracy to function.
Separationist thesis
Some writers view human rights and democracy as separate things that may not go together. Although they support human rights for everyone, they may not agree that democracy is necessarily an ideal political system for the entire world.
Tension between human rights and democracy
A tension potentially exists between human rights and democracy. In a democracy, the policies that are popular are not necessarily those which protect human rights, particularly those of non-citizens.
References
- Landman 2013, pp. 25–26.
- Landman 2013, p. 25.
- Landman 2013, p. 26.
- Zysset, Alain (2019). "Freedom of expression, the right to vote, and proportionality at the European Court of Human Rights: An internal critique". International Journal of Constitutional Law. 17 (1): 230–251. doi:10.1093/icon/moz002.
- Cohen, Joshua (2006). "Is There a Human Right to Democracy?". In Sypnowich, Christine (ed.). The Egalitarian Conscience: Essays in Honour of G. A. Cohen. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-928168-8.
- Langlois, Anthony J. (2003). "Human Rights without Democracy - A Critique of the Separationist Thesis". Human Rights Quarterly. 25 (4): 990–1019. doi:10.1353/hrq.2003.0047. S2CID 145080178.
- Teraya, Koji (2007). "For the Rights of Nobodies: The Globalising Tension between Human Rights and Democracy". Victoria University of Wellington Law Review. 38 (2): 299. doi:10.26686/vuwlr.v38i2.5528.
Sources
- Landman, Todd (2013). Human Rights and Democracy - The Precarious Triumph of Ideals. Bloomsbury Academic. doi:10.5040/9781472544643. hdl:20.500.12657/33460. ISBN 978-1-84966-346-5.
Further reading
- Besson, Samantha (2011). "Human rights and democracy in a global context: decoupling and recoupling". Ethics & Global Politics. 4 (1): 19–50. doi:10.3402/egp.v4i1.6348.
- Davenport, Christian; Armstrong, David A. (2004). "Democracy and the Violation of Human Rights: A Statistical Analysis from 1976 to 1996". American Journal of Political Science. 48 (3): 538–554. doi:10.1111/j.0092-5853.2004.00086.x.
- De Mesquita, Bruce Bueno; Cherif, Feryal Marie; Downs, George W.; Smith, Alastair (2005). "Thinking Inside the Box: A Closer Look at Democracy and Human Rights". International Studies Quarterly. 49 (3): 439–458. doi:10.1111/j.1468-2478.2005.00372.x.
- Donnelly, Jack (1999). "Human Rights, Democracy, and Development". Human Rights Quarterly. 21 (3): 608–632. doi:10.1353/hrq.1999.0039. ISSN 0275-0392. JSTOR 762667. S2CID 144723091.
- Erman, Eva (2005). Human Rights and Democracy: Discourse Theory and Global Rights Institutions. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-351-92959-2.
- Evans, Tony (2001). "If democracy, then human rights?". Third World Quarterly. 22 (4): 623–642. doi:10.1080/01436590120071812. S2CID 155014169.
- Goodhart, Michael (2008). "Human Rights and Global Democracy". Ethics & International Affairs. 22 (4): 395–420. doi:10.1111/j.1747-7093.2008.00177.x. S2CID 27472872.
- Hunt, Murray; Hooper, Hayley; Yowell, Paul, eds. (2015). Parliaments and Human Rights: Redressing the Democratic Deficit. Bloomsbury Publishing. ISBN 978-1-78225-437-9.
- McGinnis, John O.; Somin, Ilya (2008–2009). "Democracy and International Human Rights Law". Notre Dame Law Review. 84: 1739.
- Perry, Michael J. (2003). "Protecting Human Rights in a Democracy: What Role for the Courts". Wake Forest Law Review. 38: 635. SSRN 380283.
- Rosenfeld, Michel (1995–1996). "Can Rights, Democracy, and Justice be Reconciled through Discourse Theory - Reflections on Habermas's Proceduralist Paradigm of Law". Cardozo Law Review. 17: 791.
- Schwarz, Rolf (2004). "The paradox of sovereignty, regime type and human rights compliance". The International Journal of Human Rights. 8 (2): 199–215. doi:10.1080/1364298042000240861. S2CID 144880219.
- Vincent, Andrew (2010). The Politics of Human Rights. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-923896-5.