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Elliott, M. A. (2016, June 29). Human rights and the triumph of the individual in world culture. Cultural Sociology, 1(3), 343–363. dosi:10.1177/1749975507082052

Borrowing insights from global cultural analysis, this article argues that the increasing concern for, and elaboration of, human rights points to a world-cultural environment where the individual is increasingly regarded as sacred and inviolable. To demonstrate this, this article explores how human rights have developed historically as a `cult of the individual' and present new data on their recent worldwide expansion.

Questions to Consider

1. How does a social perspective on human rights differ from other perspectives?
2. What does the author of the article mean when he refers to the term the “cult of the individual”?

Skarstad, K., & Strand, H. (2016, February 18). Do human rights violations increase the risk of civil war? International Area Studies Review, 19(2), 107–130. doi:10.1177/2233865916629567

By drawing on both human rights- and civil war research, this article presents an integrated human rights peace and conflict theory. The effects of rights violations are tested by applying quantitative research methods.

Questions to Consider

1. According to the article what is the relationship between human rights and civil war? How can the infraction of human rights play a role in a civil war?
2. What can societal institutions learn from studies such as this regarding human rights?

Gilabert, P. (2015, September 08). Labor human rights and human dignity. Philosophy & Social Criticism, 42(2), 171–199. doi:10.1177/0191453715603092

The current legal and political practice of human rights invokes entitlements to freely chosen work, to decent working conditions, and to form and join labor unions. Despite the importance of these rights, they remain under-explored in the philosophical literature on human rights. This article offers a systematic and constructive discussion of them.

Questions to Consider

1. After reviewing the list of labor human rights in this article do you believe all companies adhere to these rights? If not, why?
2. Do you believe that those who have wealth and power oppress workers who have less power? How so?