Asian Criticism of the Western Concept of Human Rights

Abstract

The objective of this analysis is to introduce the concept of Asian values
and, more particularly, the Asian concept of human rights. The Asian
debate on human rights centres around issues such as the human rights
generations, individual versus collective rights, rights of states, and the
relationship between rights and duties. The criticism of the Western
concept of human rights constitutes an inseparable part of this debate. This
analysis thus aims at bringing forth a greater understanding of this issue
through the study of cultural relativism, which is prominent in the criticism
levelled at Western societes. This study starts with defining two core
theoretical concepts of human rights – universalism and cultural relativism.
Consequently it presents the major features of the Asian values debate and
Asian criticism, illustrating them on the case of Singapore, Malaysia and
Indonesia.