Do Rights Promote Development?

Abstract

Human rights of various sorts are now seen as central to the development process. We argue that rights claims can sometimes be effective in advocacy campaigns for some rights if those campaigns can find a way to resonate with the predominately liberal ideas that shape the global political economy. But this is not always possible and many `rights', especially economic rights or claims made by or on behalf of some social groups, are difficult to put onto the agenda of states. We suggest as a consequence that there is a need to be wary of an unreflective embrace of rights discourses and that other arguments for development and justice are also required, alongside sustained theoretical reflection on and engagement with the state.