Health & Human Rights

Development: the advancement & enrichment of human wellbeing through:

- Improving lives people lead (rather than assuming economic wealth leads to greater wellbeing)

- Giving people opportunities to develop abilities e.g. higher education 

- Giving people choices e.g. through education 

why is money not the best development indicator for a place as a whole?

- informal economy does not declare cash so it is not counted (including subsidence farming)

- wealth only shows one dimension of a nation 

- money for heating is included, so colder countries may appear wealthier 

Modernisation Theory: in order for economic development to continue, these things must improve:

- Environmental quality e.g. air and water 

- Health & life expectancy of the poorest

- Human rights e.g. rights for women 

Interdependence of growth loops:

-show the inerdependence among growth of consumption, the economy & resource depletion 

-purchases increase GDP which creates jobs & financial wellbeing 

What influences differences in perception of development?

-beliefs (ideology).                -Morals                   -Values                 -Ethnicity 

Sharia Law: the law of Islam, derived from Prophet Muhammad & the Qu'ran 

-Sharia is seen as nurturing & freeing humanity to realise individual potential 

-five necessities; preservation of religion, life, intellect, lineage & wealth 

-sharia is an intrusive & strict rule, particularly regarding women 

-countries that use the law include Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Afghanistan & Sudan 

Bolivia under Evo Morales 

-Morales rationalised oil & gas industries & used the revenue to fund poverty fighting projects 

-extreme poverty fell by 43%, however still remains one of S.America's poorest nations & relies on natural resources for economic growth 

why is education vital?

-allows people to know their rights               -creates a skilled workforce for employment 

-people develop an understanding of health & hygiene & ways to control family size 

hygiene & healthcare - better health, longer lives, less infant mortality 

culture - appreciation of culture leads to less social disparity 

human rights - less corruption, people can vote, have a voice 

skilled workforce - strengthens the economy, more trade 

family size - less strain on healthcare, less mortality of infants 

factors that prevent access to education : 

-wealth            -gender              -social class               -ethnicity            -physical/mental disability 

social progress: what societies can do to improve economic, political & social structure to meet basic needs, improve wellbeing & creating opportunities for people

this can be slow but accelerated by:

-government intervention           -social enterprise             -social activism 

Different types of governments have different priorities for development 

democracy:  UK                                   communist state: Cuba 

totalitarian: North Korea                       dictatorship: Saudi Arabia 

promoters of economic growth: (Bretton woods institutions)

-promote global development with a focus on economy, free trade, neo-liberalism

promoters to improve quality of life: (OECD, UN, UNESCO)

focuses on human rights, quality of life 

free trade: trade without tariffs, quotas or restrictions 

neo-liberalism: modified form of liberalism tending to favour free-market capitalism 

deregulation of financial markets: chaging regulation from government control to influence from outside investors 

why are so many countries in debt?

late 19th century many countries were ruled by colonies, in 1970s they fought for independence

in 1970s OPEC raised oil prices which increased member earnings & they invested into western banks 

banks then lent money to developing countries 

in 1980s, interest rates doubled, debt repayments increased, many countries could not afford this and banks grew nervous 

structural adjustment programmes were created which had negative effects on the poor 

socialist state 

single-party socialist states, building socialism 

democracy 

countries with a government in which power is regularly elected as a result of votes by the people 

authoritarian government 

strong central power & limited political freedom

-many countries prioritise economic wealth over human rights 

-countries often dispute over what 'human rights' are 

-this can cause tensions between nations 

-the UN created the R2P (Responsibility to Protect) which allows countries to gain cooperation through sanctions 

North and South Korea 

north: dictatorship, not pro economic development, no freedom of speech or movement 

south: democratic government, pro economic development, corruption & gender inequality 

sweatshops: 

Do economic benefits of sweatshops outweigh human rights cost?

-sweatshops provide higher paid jobs in relation to the rest on offer 

-people choose to work in sweatshops therefore still retain freedom of choice 

-without sweatshops, unemployment would rise and poverty would remain an issue 

-it is better to do something towards the global economy than nothing at all 

negatives:

-workers are often submitted to unsafe conditions, long hours, poor wages, lack of breaks and late pay 

-workers are stopped from joining unions to protect their rights 

political corruption: abuse of entrusted power for private gain 

this includes: election rigging, diverting foreign aid to private pockets - the movement of political corruption often leads to serious threats towards human rights 

most corrupt: Somalia, North Korea           least corrupt: Denmark, Finland 

reasons for corruption: type of political regime, lack of education, lack of development 

how high levels of corruption threaten human rights: 

-governments violate human rights obligations 

-corruption leads to services such as health & education suffer 

-lack of freedom of speech 

-corruption often infiltrates the judicial system meaning safety of people is threatened 

-colonialsm has created a tense environment between different ethnic groups 

-when countries became independent, they had little knowledge of how to cope which lead to insurgent groups rising & violence ensuing 

-colonial border failed to realise the importance of ethnic & religious borders and often cut across previously existing borders, causing huge tensions and conflict 

gender inequality - women 

-pay gaps in same roles, secondary & tertiary jobs taken by women 

-women own less land, 1/3 are homeless or living in inadequate facilities 

-more women are inflicted with STD's worldwide

-less girls in education, less literate women globally 

-1 in 3 women subject to violence, 1 in 5 will be victims of **** or attempted **** 

reasons women are unequal in developing countries:

-they have a lower social value

-religion 

why gender equality is important for development:

-promotes economic growth

-less population growth 

-benefits households 

-better governance 

-improves health 

geopolitical intervention: the exercise of a country's power in order to influence events outside its borders 

Humanitarian - development aid to the poorest countries to protect human rights & encourage education & healthcare 

Mutual Benefit - strengthening security & stability, promoting trade, accessing resources, encouraging inward investment 

Self-seeking - providing military support, increasing global influence 

motivations for geopolitical intervention: 

-protection of human rights                    -encouraging health & education

-strengthening security & stability           -protecting international trade routes 

-providing military support                      -offering aid & development to poorest countries

are geopolitical interventions justified?

often contencious as organisations may have different perspectives or aims 

-opposing views about whether anything positive will be achieved 

-concern over power of a country 

national sovereignty: the idea that each nation has the right to govern itself without interference from other countries 

responsibility to protect (R2P): each state has the responsibility to protect its population from war crimes, genocide, ethnic cleansing & crimes against humanity 

4 main NGO's involved with geopolitical intervention: 

Amnesty International                   Human Rights Watch 

Oxfam                                             Doctors Without Borders (MSF)

countries receiving the most aid from the USA:

Israel - allies with US        Egypt - strategic position     Afghanistan- restructuring after invasion

key reasons countries give aid: 

-human rights

-governance & political unrest

Britain giving aid to India 

FOR- they have nuclear weaponry, to maintain a relationship, huge levels of poverty, to make up for colonial exploitation 

AGAINST- India is the 10th richest country in the world, one of the fastest growing economies, aid maintains the colonial relationship, aid money is used for corrupt measures  

National Governments 

NGO's e.g. Oxfam, Save the Children 

IGO's e.g. World Bank, OECD

Private foundations e.g. Bill and Melinda Gates foundation 

TNC's 

Individual donations 

military intervention is often seen as contencious as: 

it must be seen as justified and proportionate, otherwise it may be a threat to security 

reasons for military intervention: 

-defence of human rights 

-providing military aid 

-fighting the 'war on terror'

military aid: often given by superpowers to maintain relationships e.g. 

US aid to Pakistan helped to deal with Afghanistan & the Taliban 

top 5 recipients of US military aid: Israel, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan & Pakistan 

extraordinary rendition: secret transfer of a terror suspect without legal process for interrogation, often including torture 

-raised life expectancy                -improved GNI and GDP 

-more freedom of speech            -improved gender equality 

democracy as a measure of success:

introduction of democracy is important as it brings about freedom of expression

-US invasion of Iraq in 2003 was to bring about democracy 

-this is based on the belief that democratic institutions are the building blocks for more secure & economically prosperous societies 

-democracy brings social & political stability, women's rights, better relationships between nations 

democracy aid: focuses on; supporting crucial processes e.g. fair elections 

-strengthening & reforming government institutions e.g. parliament & judiciary

-supporting civil society e.g. freedom of expression 

democracy & freedom of expression: 

-the right to express oneself freely is a fundamental right of the UDHR 

This guarantees the right to:

-speak & write openly       -protest against injustice      -criticise governments & leaders 

China: 

has often prioritised economic growth over human rights 

-e.g. economic liberalisation but still no democracy 

-restrictions on political freedom, harassment of human rights activists & detention of journalists

-the Chinese communist party (CCP) continues to control economic reforms and the internet 

military intervention: using military means to exert force & change a situation within a region

non-military intervention: bringing development using measures such as diplomacy 

direct military intervention: sending troops & equipment 

indirect intervention: providing military assistance without troops 

non-intervention: not becoming involved at all with another country 

what options does the global community have when faced with a crisis?

turn a blind eye- huge risks and unfavourable 

limited military intervention - short term and creates long term problems 

extended intervention - long term and is often seen as the answer to significant crisis'

Afghanistan 2001-2014 

US invasion following 9/11, to counteract the Taliban

Syria 2011-

democratic uprising in response to the Assad regime 

Libya 2011

civil war and civilian casualties 

Ukraine 2014-

Russian annexation of Crimea as a strategic location & to 'protect ethnic Russian minority'