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Taking the Universality of Human Needs Seriously

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Conflict: Human Needs Theory

Part of the book series: The Conflict Series

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Abstract

As a political theorist concerned with human emancipation I consider myself a specialist in how things ought to be, in this country, and in this world. As a social scientist, however, I am interested only in conceptions of the future that in principle appear realistically attainable, by and by, by way of reasonably non-violent strategies. This chapter will try to convince you that the idea of an evolving struggle toward a human rights world order can be seen as an essential supplement to the stagnating, stability-serving agenda of liberal democracies and as an alternative to the dangerous vision of a Marxist world revolution.

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Notes and References

  1. Clifford Orwin and Thomas Pangle, “The Philosophical Foundation of Human Rights,” in Marc F. Plattner (ed.), Human Rights in Our Time (Boulder, CO: Westview Press, 1984): 1–22 at 3.

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© 1990 John Burton

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Bay, C. (1990). Taking the Universality of Human Needs Seriously. In: Burton, J. (eds) Conflict: Human Needs Theory. The Conflict Series. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-21000-8_12

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