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VOL. 10, ISSUE 6 (2024)
Human rights in the age of neoliberalism: Legitimizing domination or fostering transformation?
Authors
Peter I Gasiokwu
Abstract
This paper examines the role of human rights in a world shaped by
sovereign states and global capitalism, focusing on the inherent tensions
between political power, economic domination, and rights claims. The
transformative potential of human rights is questioned within the context of
neoliberal economic policies and governance structures that often perpetuate,
rather than challenge, existing social hierarchies and inequalities. By
analysing how rights codified in international law are both a product of the
post war order and a tool of neoliberal governance, this paper explores whether
human rights practices can genuinely dismantle oppressive systems or whether
they serve as mechanisms to legitimize domination. Drawing on international
human rights law, neoliberal economic reforms, and grassroots movements, this
paper assesses the capacity of human rights to serve as a tool for social
justice, particularly in addressing class, geography, legal status, and
intersectional inequalities of gender, race, and sexuality. The conclusion
posits a reimagining of human rights frameworks as a potential counterbalance
to the social hierarchies entrenched by global capitalism, while acknowledging
the risks of co-optation.
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Pages:8-13
How to cite this article:
Peter I Gasiokwu "Human rights in the age of neoliberalism: Legitimizing domination or fostering transformation?". International Journal of Law, Vol 10, Issue 6, 2024, Pages 8-13
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