Not dead yet: Human rights in an illiberal world order

Abstract

Many argue that if liberal internationalism is in retreat, global support for human rights will weaken. This pessimistic outlook for human rights is not fully supported by the facts, not least that global attention to human rights continues to strengthen even as Western power declines. Emerging powers will certainly shape the human rights debate, and the authoritarians among them pose real risks, but global concern for human rights has never been solely dependent on Western support. The challenge for middle powers is not one of retrenchment around the status quo, but rather to build new coalitions of concerned states to meet new human rights challenges.