Political Economy for Human Rights (Routledge Frontiers of Political Economy)

Description

Over time there has been a miscommunication between mainstream economics and human rights that has paved the way to a justificatory ideology that validates the submission of human rights to the logic of market capitalism. This book shows how the discourse of mainstream economics is intrinsically opposed to the strengthening of human rights and outlines the principles upon which a human rights-based political economy can be built. Considering a variety of recognized human rights, such as the right to water and sanitation, the right to social security, the right to work, cultural freedom and democracy, this book describes how mainstream economics theory conflicts with these rights and explores alternative modes of thinking that incorporate human rights concerns into economics. Moreover, the book also reflects on the teaching of political economy for human rights. It sets out that a political economy favourable to human rights must be pluralist, interdisciplinary, participatory, de-commodified, non-utilitarian and non-consequentialist. The author proposes that it must not only assume the performative character of economics but also, and especially, its transformative purpose. Political Economy for Human Rights will offer students, academics, activists and policy makers useful tools to understand some of the main contradictions of contemporary societies and new paths leading to a more just and fraternal world. It will also be of great interest to the general public concerned with human rights and economic issues. Cover Half Title Series Page Title Page Copyright Page Dedication Table of Contents Introduction 1. Political economy and human rights: Engaging the conversation The economic dimension of human rights The manifold character of human rights Availability of means and human rights enforcement The conflicting languages of economics and human rights Utilitarianism versus human rights The market versus human rights Human rights as constraints to economic logic Guidelines for political economy and human rights to engage in conversation Some alternative principles to mainstream economics’ narrow utilitarian approach Introducing demarketization or decommodification Human rights as an expression of wellbeing and a manifestation of choice 2. Decommodification for human rights Water, social security and securing human rights The human rights to water and to social security Water and social security in securing other human rights Commodification against human rights The commodification of human rights Can markets secure human rights? Decommodifying human rights 3. Political economy for the right to work The right to work Economics versus the right to work Labour as a commodity Rights as rigidities Employment as a second-rank objective Political economy for the right to work The decommodification of labour Rights as empowerment Employment or activity as a first-rank objective 4. Political economy for cultural freedom Culture as an obstacle to development Religions Family patterns Ethnic diversity The shallowness of cultural determinism Political economy for cultural freedom Culture as a manifestation of rationality Culture as a technique to incorporate change Many roads can lead to development 5. Political economy for democracy Economics versus democracy The naturalization of economics The conflicting rationalities Crowding out people Language versus democracy Political economy for a substantive democracy Political economy or politicizing economics Connecting rationalities or pluralism versus monism Crowding in people A political economic language 6. Teaching political economy for human rights Teaching economics against human rights Teaching political economy for human rights Enriching the traditional curriculum Introducing disciplined eclecticism Heading for pluralism and beyond A brief road map for teaching human rights-based political economy Conclusion Bibliography Index