High Social Standards Research Articles

Countering, Branding, Dealing: Using Economic and Social Rights in and around the International Trade Regime

This article explores how the creative use of international economic and social rights law might assist actors operating inside and around the international trade law regime to address the impact of trade on social concerns. In a world context where trade and social concerns overlap in many ways, strategies based on international human rights law may disturb conceptions of the trade regime as narrowly directed towards trade facilitation, while also providing a basis to address difficult problems such as reconciling the concerns for high social standards in both the South and the North. The article describes and relates strategies based on international social rights at three potential venues for the development of the trade regime. First, a strategy of ‘countering’ could utilize international social rights law to guide interpretation and application of trade treaties, including to challenge the selective spread of such ‘human’ rights intellectual property rights and investment rights. Second, international social rights might be achieved by, and in turn guide, NGO ‘branding’ practices. Third, a strategy of ‘dealing’ informed by norms of international social rights could generate broader reforms to the trade regime that would address both concerns about fair trade and regulatory competition in developed countries and concerns about trade access and development in developing countries.

Introduction: Themed Section on Social Welfare and Social Democracy

For much of the post-war period, the advanced industrial nations of Europe congratulated themselves on having it both ways: successful capitalist economies which also provided effective welfare states – affluence plus social justice. Commentators have traditionally seen social democracy as the friend of social welfare. More recently, the virtuous liaison of social democratic politics with successful democratic welfare capitalism has been called into question. Welfare states face pressures from economic globalisation, population ageing, spending constraint and changes in labour markets and in family patterns; it is argued that traditional social democratic approaches find it difficult to pursue policies that will enable welfare states to adapt and continue to combine high social standards with economic growth in the changed conditions of the twenty-first century. In short, the social democratic welfare state is outmoded.

Natural Law and Mechanical Engineering

The first technological revolution, in the fourth millennium BC, was followed by immense social progress. The second revolution, which is now taking place, could lead to an even greater development in the human sciences, by setting men free from their daily struggle for existence while simultaneously exacting high social standards. Natural law - the “marriage between the ways of heaven and the ways of earth” of the Chinese - represents a route to such progress. In natural science and technology, natural law demands that conclusions be based on observation rather than speculation. The social sciences would do well to follow this example.

Some Experiences with the Group Interview

complishments of the nation, which are numerous and, in some areas, little short of remarkable. The burdens placed upon this young nation are heavy. Perhaps the miracle that brought it into existence will be repeated and a way out will be found. The question regarding its survival may be said to have been settled. It has the same chance of surviving that any other little nation has in this power-dominated world. What is highly problematical is whether the country will be able to maintain the high economic, social, and cultural standards which it has set for itself.

HEALTH IN RELATION TO CITIZENSHIP IN URBAN AND IN RURAL COMMUNITIES

Among community interests none is more important than public health, and among community liabilities none more serious than preventable sickness. The community welfare is definitely dependent on man's productivity, and this in turn is invariably influenced by the state of his health. If the community is to prosper, maintain high social, economic and intellectual standards, and otherwise meet its opportunities and responsibilities, it must include among its major activities measures for the preservation of health and the prevention of disease. This principle has been accepted by the more progressive urban communities, and is rapidly gaining acceptance in rural communities. Experience, moreover, is teaching the wisdom of employing competent professionally trained personnel, of paying reasonable compensation, and of making tenure secure when it is merited. It is teaching also that an adequate expenditure in this field, wisely administered, will yield large returns. SCOPE OF HEALTH WORK Practically all community programs of