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Introduction

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Human Rights in Asia

Abstract

The 1990s saw the rise of what came to be known as “Asian values” in the global human rights debate. In short, proponents of the “Asian values” case held that human rights, in particular civil and political rights, were culturally specific and could not be applied universally. Instead, they argued for culturally and developmentally specific interpretations of rights, in this case based on “Asian values.” The so-called “Asian values” debate lasted until around the time of the East Asia economic crisis of 1997–1998, after which time the subject slipped off the public agenda.

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© 2008 Leena Avonius and Damien Kingsbury

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Avonius, L., Kingsbury, D. (2008). Introduction. In: Avonius, L., Kingsbury, D. (eds) Human Rights in Asia. Palgrave Macmillan, New York. https://doi.org/10.1057/9780230615496_1

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