Democracy And Human Rights Essays

Democracy And Human Rights Essays Democracy And Human Rights Paper Democracy And Human Rights Paper Democracy and Human Rights Democracy and human rights are clearly different notions; they are distinct enough for them to be viewed as discreet and differentiated political concepts. Whereas democracy aims to empower the people collectively, human rights aims to empower individuals. Similarly, human rights is directly associated with the how of ruling, and not just the who, which may be the case in an electoral democracy, though not in a substantive democracy. Thus, democracies exist that do not necessarily protect human rights, while some on-democratic states are able to ensure some, though not all, human rights. On another level, the international acceptance, institutionalizing, and legal aspects of human rights mentioned above do not apply to democracy. These distinctions have influenced the traditional separation of the theories and fields Of human rights and democracy. From the human rights perspective, many have adhered to the separation theory, which argues that democracy is not immediately needed for the observation of human rights and that the maintenance of an essential link between human rights and necromancy may well have the effect of delaying the implementation of human rights norms in various states. A recent corollary of the separation theory is the democracy as neo-imperialism notion that charges that democracy is a Western-centric approach to government that is not found indigenously in all societies and is not desirable for all peoples. These arguments are subject to several key counter arguments that illustrate the interdependence of human rights and democracy. First, in terms of the neo- imperialist argument, it is certainly true that Western superpowers should not impose their particular forms of democracy on other societies and expect them to be accepted and sustainable, as noted above. However, it is equally culturally insensiti ve to claim that democracy is only an option in the West, or that it is incompatible with other cultures. Secondly, in reference to the separation theory, while it would be unwise to wait for democracy to start promoting human rights, it must also be recognized that some human rights are intrinsically linked with institutions and principles of democracy. Furthermore, separating human rights from democracy undermines opportunities for implementation, in that it reduces human rights to standards or norms; as Longish states, human rights amount to little more than charity if they are not functioning in a democratic framework. Essentially, the inclination to separate human rights from democracy is rooted in the acceptance of their traditional definitions. An electoral democracy that lacks the other institutions and principles of a substantive democracy can function without necessarily guaranteeing human rights, just as some narrowly defined human rights can still be realized in the absence Of democracy. However, the re-conceptualization Of democracy as substantive, and of human rights as bei ng more far-reaching and inclusive, underscores the necessity of linking the two. This interdependence occurs on the levels of principle, enforcement, and specific rights. On the conceptual level, as Longish notes, both contemporary liberal democracy and human rights are derived from and express the assumptions of liberalism, which include individualism, egalitarianism, and universalism. Furthermore, both democracy and human rights pursue a common agenda, and it is only within democracy [that] human rights standards or norms [are] transcended such that the values articulated by these norms or standards are genuine rights. In addition, it is only in a well-functioning democracy that individual citizens have access to mechanisms to ensure the implementation of their rights. The relationship between human rights and democracy is perhaps most clear through an examination of civil and political rights, especially those articulated in Article 21 of the UDDER and Article 25 of the CIVIC, both of which ensure citizen participation in government through free and fair elect ions and through direct service and participation. These rights are related to the rights of expression, association, assembly, and movement, which are also interdependent with democracy, as well as the rights to liberty, security of person, and the guarantee of due process of the law. Economic, social, and cultural rights are also being increasingly recognized as being mutually dependent, if not integral, with democracy. As Gusto writes, the pursuit of the right to development and socio-economic rights is strongly associated with the social democracy vision of poverty eradication and the equitable distribution of ownership, control, and the benefits of wealth. Indeed, political and civil rights can best (and perhaps only) be realized by citizens who meet a basic level of physical security in terms of access to shelter, water, sanitation, and food, as well as education, healthcare, and employment or income. Socially, democracy is interrelated with rights to equality and non-discrimination, especially for marginalia groups including w omen and minorities. Culturally, the respect for diversity and pluralism inherent to democracy is linked to the protection of rights related to engage, religion, or ethnicity. It is thus clear that human rights and democracy are interdependent, especially when defined in the broader conceptualizations of democracy as substantive democracy, and human rights as civil, political, economic, social, and cultural rights. These different kinds of rights cannot be realized in a non-democratic system, and likewise, no democracy is sustainable without the presence of these rights. While this relationship is evident in theory, it is perhaps more useful to consider the interdependence of human rights and democracy through the case study of an emerging democracy.

ACOSTA Surname Meaning and Origin

ACOSTA Surname Meaning and Origin The Spanish and Portuguese surname Acosta originated as a name used to  refer to a person who lived on a riverbank or by the coast, or from the mountains (encostas). The name derives from the Portuguese da Costa, a cognate of English coast. Acosta is the 60th most common Spanish surname. Alternate Surname Spellings: COSTA, COSTAS, COSTES, DA COSTA, COSTE, COTE, LACOSTE, DELACOSTE, DELCOTE, CUESTA, COSTI Surname Origin: Spanish, Portuguese Where Do People With the ACOSTA Surname Live? According to  Forebears, Acosta is the 518th most common surname in the world. It is found most prevalently in Paraguay, where it ranks 14th in the nation, followed by Uruguay (16th), Argentina (20th), Cuba (27th), Dominican Republic (42nd), Venezuela (45th), Colombia (51st), Panama (73rd) and Mexico (78th).  Within Spain, Acosta is found most frequently in the Canary Islands, according to WorldNames PublicProfiler.  In the United States, the Acosta surname follows the patterns of most Hispanic surnames, being found most often in the states of Florida, Texas, California, Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada, Colorado, Illinois, New York, New Jersey, Vermont, and Connecticut. Acosta is also fairly common in eastern Canada, especially in Toronto and Quebec. Famous People With the ACOSTA Surname Joaquin Acosta -  19th-century Colombian explorer and writerMercedes de Acosta - American poet, playwright, and novelistCarlos Acosta - Cuban ballet dancerManny Acosta - Panamanian professional baseball playerHector Acosta - Dominican musician Genealogy Resources for the Surname ACOSTA 100 Most Common Spanish SurnamesHave you ever wondered about your Spanish last name and how it came to be? This article describes common Spanish naming patterns and explores the meaning and origins of 100 common Spanish surnames. How to Research Hispanic HeritageLearn how to get started researching  your Hispanic ancestors, including the basics of family tree research and country-specific organizations, genealogical records, and resources for Spain, Latin America, Mexico, Brazil, the Caribbean, and other Spanish speaking countries. Acosta Family Crest - Its Not What You ThinkContrary to what you may hear, there is no such thing as an Acosta family crest or coat of arms for the Acosta surname.  Coats of arms are granted to individuals, not families, and may rightfully be used only by the uninterrupted male-line descendants of the person to whom the coat of arms was originally granted.   The Acosta DNA Surname ProjectThe Acosta Family Project seeks to find common heritage through sharing of information and DNA testing. Any variant spellings of the Acosta surname are welcome to participate. ACOSTA Family Genealogy ForumThis free message board is focused on the descendants of Acosta ancestors around the world. Search past queries, or post a question of your own. FamilySearch - ACOSTA GenealogyAccess over 1.1 million free historical records and lineage-linked family trees posted for the Acosta surname and its variations on this free genealogy website hosted by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. ACOSTA Surname Mailing ListThis free mailing list for researchers of the Acosta surname and its variations includes subscription details and searchable archives of past messages. Hosted by RootsWeb. DistantCousin.com - ACOSTA Genealogy Family HistoryExplore free databases and genealogy links for the last name Acosta. The Acosta Genealogy and Family Tree PageBrowse family trees and links to genealogical and historical records for individuals with the last name Acosta from the website of Genealogy Today. -References: Surname Meanings Origins Cottle, Basil. Penguin Dictionary of Surnames. Baltimore, MD: Penguin Books, 1967. Dorward, David. Scottish Surnames. Collins Celtic (Pocket edition), 1998. Fucilla, Joseph. Our Italian Surnames. Genealogical Publishing Company, 2003. Hanks, Patrick, and Flavia Hodges. A Dictionary of Surnames. Oxford University Press, 1989. Hanks, Patrick. Dictionary of American Family Names. Oxford University Press, 2003. Reaney, P.H. A Dictionary of English Surnames. Oxford University Press, 1997. Smith, Elsdon C. American Surnames. Genealogical Publishing Company, 1997. Back to Glossary of Surname Meanings Origins