Discourses of Globalisation, Ideology, and Human Rights: Major Trends

Abstract

Globalisation, economic, cultural and social change has affected the nature of the debate in human rights education. The chapter explores human rights education research and the problematic relationship between human rights education, ideology and the state, against the background of globalisation, and social and cultural factors. This chapter, with reference to human rights education attempts to answer the following fundamental question: How can we promote the creation of a more equitable, respectful, peaceful and just society for everyone globally? The chapter argues that the right to freedom, the right to a fair trial, the right to freedom of religion and the right to engage in political activity are significant principles of a pluralist democracy. The chapter concludes that in order to advance the discourse of human rights for all, and participatory democracy, we need current evidence of significantly more human rights education at every level: beginning with teaching human rights to children.KeywordsAccessAccountabilityChildren’s rightsCitizenship educationCritical pedagogyCultureDemocracyDiscourseDiscriminationEqualityEthnicityFreedomGlobalizationHuman rightsHuman rights educationHuman rights policy documentsHuman rights violationsIdeologyInequalityJusticeMoral educationPovertyPoverty eradicationPrejudiceSocial actionSocial inequalitySocial justiceSocial stratificationToleranceUnited NationsUNESCOValues