Abstract
International Declarations and Covenants on human rights pretend to have universal reach, at the same time acknowledging that basic rights can only be cultivated and protected at the national level. This universality has been questioned by non-Western cultures, and by those pointing out that marginalized social groups, by being deprived of citizenship, are subject to violation of their freedom-based negative human rights, and unable to claim positive rights—basic goods. Furthermore, poor- and middle-income countries may lack the political will to protect basic rights, or be unable to muster resources to provide essential goods and services, thus leaving essential needs unattended.
Distributive justice searches for criteria to reduce inequalities and create fair social conditions. Liberal politics defend justice based on merit and access to equal opportunities as the most appropriate criteria for allocating scarce resources. Since poor populations lack the capabilities to behave meritoriously and achieve socially respectable positions, merit cannot lead to more justice. Addressing essential needs is the objective and foremost criterion to allocate resources appropriately, and ought to be applied wherever dire needs are unattended.
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© 2012 Miguel Kottow
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Kottow, M. (2012). Rights and Duties, Needs, and Merits. In: From Justice to Protection. SpringerBriefs in Public Health, vol 1. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-2026-2_2
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