Introduction

Resumption of hostilities meant “hell on Earth has returned to Gaza. The resumption of hostilities is catastrophic.”

I have been to all kinds of conflicts and crises. I have never seen anything like this in terms of severity, scale and speed.

During the past decade, the richest 1 per cent of people captured around half of all new global wealth. Since 2020, the top 1 per cent has seized two-thirds of the $ 42 trillion newly created wealth. This is nearly twice gained by 99 per cent of humanity. Hunger and myriad humanitarian crises stare in the face of hapless teeming millions. Elon Musk paid a “true tax rate” of 4 per cent, Jeff Bezos paid less than 1 per cent whereas a flour seller in Uganda makes $ 80 a month pays a tax rate of 40 per cent. Inequality is accumulation of wealth and power in a few hands. It has corrupted and polarized politics and media. It is corroding democracies.

World Economic Forum, Davos, January 2023 

The number of countries involved in some kind of conflicts outside of their borders has risen from 58 in 2008 to 91 in 2022. About 238,000 people died in global conflicts in 2022. A massive 96 per cent increase year over year.

Global Peace Index 2023 and UCDP

AI will replace all jobs…we are seeing the most disruptive force in history…human beings will be challenged to find meaning in their lives. 

Elon Musk, November 2023  

The above-mentioned facts and figures present a picture of gloom and doom for humanity in the third decade of the 21st century. If they are allowed to continue on the same pace and scale; the world would be moving fast towards existential threats.  Yet, on an optimistic note, the new millennium ushered on the wave of promises and potentials of hyper-globalisation celebrating victory of liberal democracy and explosion of peace as a result of end of the cold war. Certain gains, such as many millions moved away from extreme poverty and technology provided ladder even to laggard.  There seemed a new wave of hopes, aspirations and unlimited opportunity. 

However, one needs to ponder over, why the world landed up so soon in this mess of inequality, poverty, conflicts of desperation and hopelessness. Reasons are many---global governance is without global government in which IMF, World Bank and WTO etc are closely linked to certain financial and commercial interests dominating the scene. 

On the other hand, those affected by their decisions are voiceless. World Bank and IMF were founded to promote development and bring global financial with the Great Depression 1930s in mind. 

Moreover, they were committed to control follies and failures of market. Unfortunately, they began to champion market supremacy with ideological fervor and a missionary zeal. As a result, global economy turned out less sustainable, more volatile and far less equitable.  Corporate giants took over the control of globalisation, triumphant market machinations crushed social moral values, techno-management overwhelmed democratic processes. Greed of the rich created economic crises, social conflicts and political polarisation giving rise to populist authoritarian leaders. They flaunt narcissist personal habits, lie openly, and shift principles and positions to their convenience. Naturally, they have little respect for truth, democracy and humanitarian values. The situation is dire. However, there is an opportunity to change the situation for better. The year 2024 is unique; that about half of the world populations—4.2 billion citizens in about 65 countries are going vote. 

The spectacular dance of democracy may go totally wrong if allowed to be manipulated by populist dictators. Global voters must assert their franchise for truthful democracy by shunning narrower short-term concerns and benefits. After all, a leader is made by his followers. He reflects in a clearer manner the aspirations lying dormant among the masses. These immortal words of Gandhi exhort us today to be truthfully democratic failing which mankind would continue to reel in the age of post-truth wherein human rights and democracy have no place. Rightly, human rights emerged as a potent antidote to those who championed Nazism/ fascism; and more as a lesson for those who saw opportunity in appeasement, self-aggrandizement and benefits to remain silent when others were suffering. 

Evolution

The year 2023-24 marked the diamond jubilee of the Universal Declaration for Human Rights. On 10 December 1948 the United Nations General Assembly passed one of the first major declarations reaffirming faith in human rights and dignity of human person. Human rights were accorded a prominent place in the UN Charter to build a durable base for a peaceful world.  Death and destruction of the two World Wars and horrors of a rather rudimentary nuclear weapons (Hiroshima and Nagasaki, 6&9 August 1945) necessitated peace. World leaders and statesmen ruminated over the puzzle of peace as wars returned after a few years of almost every peace agreement among major countries in Europe. Even the League of Nations (1919) tried only to maintain European status quo and failed to establish justice and honour in relations between nations.  Learning lessons from the failure of the League, there was a strong advocacy to build a durable peace based on collective well-being, security and stability. In his address to the Congress on 6 January 1941 American President Franklin D. Roosevelt emphasized following four freedoms for peace in the world: 

Freedom of speech and expression

Freedom of religion

Freedom from want

Freedom from fear

This spirit of peace, security and freedom became the foundation pillars of the United Nations. Interestingly, it was an amendment moved by the Indian delegation at the San Francisco Conference that for peace and security promotion of human rights be made one of the purposes of the UN.  Importance of Human rights was duly highlighted by the leader of the Indian delegation A R Mudaliar while speaking in the Conference on 29 April 1945. He argued:

When we are thinking of security, of armed forces which will prevent aggression, we are likely to forget the basic factor, the cause which leads to aggression…There is one great reality which must be remembered by all of us---the dignity of the common man, the fundamental human rights of all beings all over the world.

Thus, human rights were placed on high pedestal along with peace and security in the U.N. Charter. This was a clear realisation that peace was not possible without eradicating the roots of conflicts (poverty, illiteracy, repression, inequality, cultural dominance etc.). Thus emerged the UDHR. To add legal teeth to the UDHR, four instruments were proclaimed: International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and its two Optional Protocols.  Ratifying states are required to honour these rights by making necessary arrangements in their legal system and governance. These covenants are supplemented by several treaties and declarations on specific issues. In the last seventy-five years more than a hundred Conventions and Declarations related to different aspects of human rights have been adopted. Most significant are---Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (1951), Convention on the Status of Refugees (1954), Convention on Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (1969), Convention on Elimination of Discrimination against Women (1979), Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989) to mention a few. 

New areas of rights, such as the right to development (1986), the right to a clean environment, the right to peace, the right to birth control and access to contraception (2012) etc. have been added to the whole range of rights promoting human welfare.  UN has also established elaborate structures for their implementation and observation. In this regard creation of the office of UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (1994) and Centre for Human Rights are landmark achievements. Moreover, establishment of tribunals to prosecute those guilty of rights violations in Yugoslavia and Rwanda signalled UN commitment for human rights protection. This was further strengthened by the creation of the International Criminal Court (2002). Above all, the post-Second World War global architecture was committed to this goal and made effective attempts in this direction. Most significantly, it was endeavored to change human psyche inculcating humanism denouncing war as an instrument of dispute settlement by adhering to peaceful means. Institutions like UNESCO played an important role famously proclaiming in its preamble--- since wars begin in the minds of men defence of peace must be constructed in the minds of men. In this endeavour UNESCO and others held an International Congress on Education and Democracy in 1993. The Congress stressed that education for democracy was an integral aspect of education for human rights, and noted that education for human rights and democracy was itself a human right and a prerequisite for the realisation of human rights and social justice.  Unfortunately, they remained more slogans and less commitment. Many states guided by the realist notion of politics, violated human rights with impunity. 

Hence, it was realised that the Commission on Human Rights be reformed to tackle the challenges in the 21st century. The UNGA resolution 60/251 mandated for the creation of 47-member Human Rights Council. Members are elected for a three-year term and the prime consideration is their contribution to the principles and practices of human rights.  The resolution, more significantly, provides for suspension of a Council member for committing gross and systematic violations of human rights. The Russian Federation lost its membership in 2022 and failed to get elected next time due to its “war crimes” in Ukraine. The only other country to be suspended was Libya in 2011 in the wake of anti-Gaddafi upheavals. These examples suggest that despite limitations and shortcomings the global community is committed for a robust human rights protection system. Over a period of time, national and regional policies, programmes and relations are also influenced by human rights considerations. They influence bilateral relations and form a major part of trade negotiations too. 

As a result, given the need for human rights protection, initiatives were taken beyond the UN as well. The Council of Europe (1949) established the European Convention on Human Rights (1950) to take the first step for the collective enforcement of certain of the rights stated in the UDHR. Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (1959) is committed to promote the observance and defence of human rights and to serve as the consultative organ of the OAS. The Organisation of African Unity (1963) adopted the African Charter of Human and Peoples’ Rights (1981). The African Charter is significant for the reason that it combines Social, economic, cultural, political and civil rights as indivisible and independent and marries them with peoples’ or collective rights. More significant was the Helsinki Final Act (1975) by the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe. The participating states committed to standards and norms on human rights issues, such as treatment of minorities, prevention of torture, freedom of speech and expression, and abolition of capital punishment. South East Asian countries adopted the ASEAN Human Rights Declaration in 2012. 

They committed to the UDHR and emphasized good governance, development, gender issues and peace.  Nevertheless, the Arab League too moved in that direction with the adoption of the Arab Charter on Human Rights. Unfortunately, the South Asian region has no regional policy or programme dedicated to human rights in the form of a Declaration or an agreement. This is a clear fall out of the prevailing political scenario in the region leading to derailment or “death” of the SAARC. Other countries may be accused for this; but India cannot shrug off its responsibility. India, since independence, enjoyed enormous global respect for its humanitarian values. They were prominently enshrined in the Constitution. India’s foreign policy and diplomacy championed them globally. Global promotion of these moral values cannot be ignored if India aspires a global power status, morally called Vishwa Guru or Vishwa Mitra. The very idea of Guru or Mitra is deeply rooted in moral values and commitment; not to be proclaimed as military or economic prowess. India in the 21st century must resolve this fundamental contradiction in its own benefit.         

Cold War Quagmire

The post-war period was overwhelmed by liberating ideas of the UN, UDHR and egalitarian utopia of communism propagated by the USSR and this period also witnessed a global tumult with the herald of decolonization as a right to self-determination. 

This was generally a valiant struggle and liberating experience for the colonial people. However, liberation of poor, exploited and marginalised people faced innumerable challenges both internally and externally. Crises of bad governance and corruption gave rise to dictatorial regimes with little respect for democratic values and institutions. Obvious outcome was Inter-intra-state conflicts killing hapless people; mostly minorities as targets of ethnic cleansing. There was no genuine support coming from the UN as it became a victim of super power rivalry. 

The world body became almost paralysed owing to frequent use of veto in the Security Council. Neither ideological commitment nor humanitarian values could influence them. They took positions for and against their favourite crooked cronies despite their heinous crimes against humanity. Albania’s Enver Hoxha, Nicolae Ceausescu, the Romanian Fuehrer, Idi Amin of Uganda, Pol Pot of Cambodia, and Gaddafi of Libya, military dictators of Pakistan etc. had powerful supporters too. The so-called votaries of human rights failed to take required actions against their brutality.   

Newly independent countries got embroiled in cold war politics led by two super powers---USA and USSR; championed two clashing ideologies to overwhelm the world. Nevertheless, they also created two military blocs and many subordinate groups and alliances serving as their proxies globally. Both blocs fought wars indirectly though. The cold war changed the theatre of wars. Europe enjoyed the longest peace in its history supposedly due to nuclear deterrence called MAD (Mutual Assured Destruction). Several destructive wars were fought among Afro-Asian-Latin American countries by arms supplied by both military blocs--- NATO and WARSAW Pact countries. There were more than 100 major conflicts (wars) killing 20 million.  Result was untold miseries and militarization eating into meagre resources of poorer countries. These developments adversely impacted protection and promotion of human rights particularly of the marginalised ones. Rights violations were rampant in socialist/communist and Islamic countries. They denounced Human rights as western imperialist ploys. 

End of Cold war

The fall of the Berlin Wall (1989), the symbol of the cold war and disintegration of the Soviet Union (1991) marked the end of the cold war. Nevertheless, it was touted as a victory of liberal democracy. Francis Fukuyama proclaimed “The End of History” (The National Interest, summer 1989) as a celebration of liberal democracy as it conquered rival ideologies like hereditary monarchy, fascism and most recently communism. Liberal democracy may constitute the “end point of mankind’s ideological evolution” and the final form of human government”, and as such constituted the “end of history.” The future was characterized by individualism, egalitarianism, universalism and meliorism. Thus, the wave of globalisation spread, promising shared peace and prosperity. Unfortunately, neo-liberal hyper-globalization created vast economic disparity. Crony-capitalism increased faster while states mostly withdrew from social sector. They created conditions for social conflicts, paranoid nationalism, xenophobia, populist strong-man leaders dismantling democratic institutions amassing unlimited powers. They have ruled the roost with new age tech-surveillance, social media-based misinformation and disinformation; called post- truth; when truth does not matter! Social tensions of ethnicity, nationalism and politics of religion and identity became more apparent. Between 1989 and 1992, there were only three wars between states while 79 intra-state conflicts were recorded.    

Intra-state conflicts, terrorism, Iraq-Syria, Afghanistan, and several African countries witnessed grave humanitarian crises. With over more than 8 lac people killed in 100 days in Rwanda becoming one of the worst genocides in the world .  The Rwandan bloodshed brought the paralysis of international community, institutions and human conscience to the fore. Power politics of big powers had other businesses to focus on. This also exposed the hypocrisy of those championing “free world” and “humanitarian intervention” in case of gross and massive human rights violations. War in Ukraine and Hamas-Israel conflicts have added new chapters in the playbook of bestiality. Pandemic and several ongoing wars/conflicts have pushed many hundred million in extreme poverty.  

Democracy and its foundational values are under threat today. Non-political-far-right-populists-rich are gradually capturing global political space. Self-proclaimed anarcho-capitalist Javier Milei, known as the Mad Man, swept the presidential elections in Argentina with a record margin. An admirer of Donald Trump and Bolsonaro; Milei signalled the consolidation of narrow nationalist politics in South America.   A crazy Trumpist, believed that climate change was a socialist lie, Covid vaccines were a hoax, abortion rights were unnecessary even in cases of rape and social justice was an aberration and dismissed sex education as a Marxist brainwashing. He pledged to rip apart or even set alight the socio-economic order to Make Argentina Great Again.  Daniel Noboa, the new President of Ecuador is the younger son and heir of the richest man, banana magnate Alvaro Noboa, who himself unsuccessfully tried to be elected President five times. New Paraguay president Santiano Pena is a conservative, business-friendly leader. Europe is not far behind. Christopher Luxon, an erstwhile ice cream/deodorant seller rich business executive is New Zealand Prime Minister. 

In the Netherlands, one of the most socially liberal country, rise of Geert Wilders, a far-right anti-Islam populist, has set alarm bells ringing all through Europe. These events are not altogether isolated rather a continuous consolidation of far-right populism in Europe and beyond. In the 2022 French presidential elections Marine Le Pen (National Rally) finished a close second. In Germany neo-Nazi AfD is the second most popular party while Italy is ruled by Georgia Meloni’s party Brothers of Italy rooted in neo-Nazism. Hungary’s long-serving leader Viktor Orban aimed to build a “workfare” society which would be “illiberal in nature” like Russia, China and Turkey. Growing strength of the neo-Nazi Sweden Democrats emphasizing anti-immigration, denying Jews and indigenous Sami people the status of “real Swedes” became unbearable for the world. Likewise, the far-right Finns Party in Finland is nationalist, Eurosceptic, anti-immigration and has little concern for environmental challenges. 

These parties and leaders are all deeply influenced by right reactionary ideas playing with emotional issues. False projection of a rosy-cozy dream is sold by raising the bogey of ethno-nationalism, xenophobia and threats posed by migration. Such situations make anti-political appeal more attractive---religion, race, nationality, ethnicity, as remedy to their mundane challenges. Public anger due to rising cost of living, higher inflation, and unemployment has been tactfully used by populist leaders to their personal benefit---Making America Great Again. This pledge culminated on 6 January 2021 when their Capitol was stormed on the “instigation” of the President Trump---the worst outlandish humiliation for the Great American Democracy! 

The world is ruled by leaders like Benjamin Netanyahu, Vladimir Putin, Xi Jinping, and their ilk. Surveillance states easily crush dissent and differences of opinion. Media manufacture consent around these culture warriors suppressing truth. Use of force is projected as their personal leadership strength; while any attempt for negotiated settlement of disputes is made to be perceived as weakness. 

Naturally, “genocidal” aggressions and crimes in Ukraine, Gaza, Xinjiang etc. are increasing year after year.  They are only the tips of the ice-berg. Almost every nook and corner of the globe is suffering on one or the other account. Our conscience has become so transitory and tattered that there is hardly any concern for sufferings of people in Afghanistan, Sudan and Syria. Interestingly, every big power is courting the Taliban to suit their geo-political calculations! Did we forget war against terror or terror and talks must not go together! Undoubtedly, in the 21st century human rights are mere ruse not commitment. This is not to suggest that past was all pleasant. 

Unfortunately, human rights have been used as a foreign policy tool used selectively to vilify a hostile group/party/nations. In the 1970-80s Argentina, Chile, Iraq, Haiti were condemned by the UN but remained indifferent to the USSR, China, Algeria, Nigeria and Cuba. There was so much concern for the Soviet intervention in Afghanistan but the US promoted same by Pakistan. Islamist promotion against Soviet communism converted the adjoining areas of Afghanistan-Pakistan into a Jihadist nursery. The leaders of most notorious terror groups---Taliban, Al Qaeda and Islamic State were “born and brought up” in that very nursery. Their parentage lies with the USA and Pakistan. However, they are not exceptions. Even Indians practised this dual standard. CPI supported emergency as Indira Gandhi was a close “ally” of the Soviets. 

She openly supported the Movement for Restoration of Democracy against Zia’s dictatorship in Pakistan but congratulated Mujibur Rehman when he throttled democracy in Bangladesh on 28 October 1974 by imposing emergency, suspending fundamental rights and banning non-official publications. Examples of dualism based on individual-national interests are innumerable. This has increased rapidly. Moreover, the 1990s marked the beginning of the third reverse wave of democracy characterised by weakening of democratic values, economic crises, social conflicts, social-political polarization, break down of law and order and rise of authoritarian leaders. This democratic reversal has paralysing impact on international institutions. As a result, there is no effective rule-based international order. Myriad wars and conflicts resemble Hobbesian sate of nature. Weak suffer silently without any help while strong oppress with vengeance.   

Conclusion

This is an age of Market Society created by globalisation which seems to be managed like a pact with the devil. Greed is projected as Good. Pleasure and consumerism have become totally devoid of conscience. The market society we live in; everything is up for sale---motherhood, degrees, and right to pollute to buying elections! More GDP growth does not bring better life conditions. India and USA are glaring examples. Worsening climate conditions, spread of falsehood through social media misinformation-disinformation etc. are pulling the globe to hellish dystopia; not a better condition than the Dark Ages. How can one think of enjoyment of human rights? For human rights are rooted in Enlightenment ideas---reason, science, sympathy and humanism. Today they are more necessary to enhance human flourishing. Progressive change is possible by revisiting Immanuel Kant’s what is Enlightenment? (1784) proclaiming its motto—Dare to Understand, demanding freedom of thought and speech against submission to dogmas and formulas of religion and political authority. David Deutsch, a contemporary physicist, makes a similar defence of enlightenment in the 21st century. He firmly believed that an optimistic civilisation is open to innovate and is based on traditions of criticism. Its most important knowledge is how to detect and eliminate errors.  

Individuals and civil society desperately need to come together to deliberate openly and struggle together collectively for their universal common good. In this direction it is imperative to remember insightful words of Rene Samuel Cassin, the French jurist, one of the co-authors of the UDHR, “Now that we possess an instrument capable of lifting or easing the burden of oppression and injustice in the world, we must learn to use it.  Thus, truthful knowledge and right actions are needed to bring respite for the suffering humanity. Vigilance and assertion by ordinary people be promoted to assert their rights. Let there be stirring global demand for global governance, participatory socialism along with an ethical way of life. Task is arduous, the goal is distant. Resistance is certainly very powerful. 

There is a deeper feeling of distrust, desperation and darkness around. Yet, there is a beacon of hope---valiant struggle of Iranian women, Ukrainian resistance, tribal, peasant, youth and Occupy movements. We all must contribute in such struggles failing which one would be without rights. After all, duty and rights are two sides of the same coin.

References

1. After a pause of a week hostility resumed between Israel and Hamas on 1st December 2023. UN humanitarian office in Geneva expressed these concerns. 

2. https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/gaza-negotiators-try-get-israel-hamas-agree extend-truce-again-2023-12-01/ accessed on 02. 12.2023

3. Arif Husain, Chief Economist, World Food Programme, Isaac Chotiner, “Gaza is Suffering”, The New Yorker, 3 January 2024.

4. https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2023/01/global-inequality-is-a-failure-of-imagination/,accessedon 14. 11. 2023

5. https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/06/29/conflict-war-deaths-global-peace-rise- casualty/, accessed on 13. 11.2023.

6. Hindu (New Delhi), 4 November 2023, p. 13.

7. See the merits of globalisation, Jagdish Bhagwati, In Defence of Globalisation (New Delhi: OUP, 2004).

8. Joseph Stiglitz, Globalization and its Discontents (New Delhi: Penguin, 2002), p-p.3-22.

9. https://time.com/6551743/2024-elections-democracy-trump-putin/, accessed on 15.01. 2023.

10. Mahatma Gandhi, Harijan, 02-02-1947.

11. Jawaharlal Nehru, Glimpses of World History (New Delhi: JNMF, 1987), p. 683.

12. M. S. Rajan, United Nations and World Politics (New Delhi: Har-Anand Pubs., 1995), p.320

13. Ibid., p. 314.

14. They came into force in 1976, and 1991 respectively.

15. Leah Levin, Human Rights: Questions and Answers (New Delhi: NBT, 1998), p. 75.

16. https://ijrcenter.org/un-human-rights-council/, accessed on 08. 01. 2024.

17. See Leah Levin, n. 14, pp. 63-72. 

18. https://asean.org/asean-human-rights-declaration/ accessed on 08. 01.2024

19. Boutros-Boutros Ghali, Agenda for Peace (New York: UN, 1992), p.7

20. UNDP Report, 1994, p. 47, also see John Harris, ed., The Politics of Humanitarian Intervention (London: Cassell Imprint, 1995).

21. https://cla.umn.edu/chgs/holocaust-genocide-education/resource-guides/rwanda, accessed on 25 December 2023

22. Hindu, 25 November 2023, p. 11.

23. Saumya Kalia, “Argentina’s President of Chaos”, Hindu, 26 November 2023, p. 14.

24. Elisabeth Asbrink, “Sweden is becoming Unbearable”, New York Times, 20 September 2022.

25. Indian Express (New Delhi), 29 October 1983.

26. Samuel P. Huntington, “Democracy’s Third Wave”, Journal of Democracy (Baltimore), vol. 2, no. 2, spring 1991.

27. Joseph Stiglitz, Making Globalisation Work (New Delhi: Penguin, 2007), p. 292.

28. See Michael Sandel, What Money Can’t Buy: The Moral Limits of Markets (London: Penguin, 2013).

29. Steven Pinker, Enlightenment Now (New Delhi: Penguin, 2019), p.7.

30. Rene Samuel Cassin, “How the Charter on Human Rights was Born”, UNESCO Courier, 21, January 1968, p. 6