scholarly journals The State in the Complex Networks of the UN Human Rights Council

2021 ◽  
Vol 106 (6) ◽  
pp. 155-166
Author(s):  
Anatoliy Boyashov ◽  

Having developed into a political and ideological concept since the 1990s, global governance has evolved as a priority of the European Union. Although the EU promotes the idea of state decentralization within global governance at the UN, in the EU itself the state is paramount. This article examines the structure of the complex networks of the UN Human Rights Council. The scholarly problem of the article is the contradiction between the key decision-making role of the state in the HRC and increasingly complex social networks of the UN system. The Council is structured in a way that ensures the active participation of transnational corporations, NGOs, and EU supranational institutions in its agenda. Does this hypothetically mean that the role of the state in the UN system and in international affairs is declining? The focus of this article is on the ties between states, NGOs, and international organizations in the UN Human Rights Council. These ties suggest that the state is included in complex networks and enhances their sustainment.

2016 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 265-282
Author(s):  
Tomasz Łachacz ◽  
Sylwester Zagulski

Unemployment is classified today as one of the main threats to society. The phenomenon affects the lives of individuals, the functioning of families and society and development of the state. It is often the source of other social problems such as poverty, violence, or social pathologies. The article presents the scale and nature of unemployment occurring after 1989 in Poland and in selected European Union countries, i.e. the Netherlands, Spain, Slovakia and Latvia. It attempts to show the characteristic trends of the phenomenon over a period of more than two decades. Examples from the European countries analysed show that the situation in the labour market and the approach to employment are radically different. Individual countries are characterised by very different unemployment rates, which reflect their different size, economic and demographic potential, or are associated with the tradition of employment. The existence of differences seems to be normal, but their scale may give rise to concern. A characteristic feature of unemployment in the period analysed is its regional diversity, both in Poland and in the whole of the European community. Important factors that determine the level of unemployment are age, sex, education and people’s qualifications. The effects of long-term unemployment are very painful for the whole of society. Such a situation can lead to, amongst others, poverty, societal antagonism, violence and migration. The latter is an issue that the whole of Europe is currently struggling with. The uncontrolled influx of immigrants, including those migrating for economic reasons, causes fear of losing their job among Europeans, which in turn translates into the radicalisation of society. A role of the state and the EU institutions is to create an effective mechanism for the protection and support of the unemployed. This is a prerequisite for Europeans to continue the project which is a common united Europe.


2021 ◽  
pp. 61-82
Author(s):  
Anatoly Boyashov

The chapter's argument anchors the debates on what type of a competitor the European Union is. On a larger scale, it addresses the question about the nature of competition within the United Nations. A large share of European integration literature suggests that the EU competes as a Þ-U+201C-Þnormative power EuropeÞ-U+201D-Þ thus identifying competition as a struggle for prestige and status. The proponents of the other perspective pinpoint the EU identity as a Þ-U+201C-Þmarket power EuropeÞ-U+201D-Þ-to gain advantages, the EU hence seeks to guide competition with its wealth. This chapter argues the augmenting complexity of international organizations pushes the EU to act as Þ-U+201C-Þnetwork power EuropeÞ-U+201D-Þ and compete for the structural position a Þ-U+201C-ÞbridgeÞ-U+201D-Þ in complex networks.


2003 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
pp. 13-25 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mit'a Castle-Kanĕrová

This article follows earlier discussions about the current status of Romani refugees and migrants within Europe and the role of human rights in the process of accession of Central European states to the European Union (EU), in the Cambridge Review of International Affairs, Volume 13, Number 2. Romani migration opens up central issues of democratisation in Eastern Europe and of the role played by the EU in shaping that process. Human rights appear to have been accorded secondary importance and were replaced by the political doctrines of accession as efforts to manage and control migration, particularly of so-called undesirable migrants, such as the Roma, have reached a hiatus. The argument offered here is that discrimination of the Roma has been defined as no more than a social problem so that governments, both East and West, can proceed with the political agenda of enlargement. To demonstrate this point, the article reviews some Czech governmental documentation related to the treatment of Roma and places it within the context of the debate around accession within the broader framework of EU harmonisation of immigration policies.


Author(s):  
Fox Hazel

This chapter addresses the State as the prime actor in the conduct of diplomacy and examines the State’s status as a legal person as defined by international law. To understand the role of the State in international affairs, it is essential to appreciate that it is both a maker and a subject of international law. It has been and continues to be instrumental in the formation of public international law. The chapter thus presents four topics to explain the nature and scope of the powers and activities of the State in international affairs. These are: the qualifications for statehood, recognition of the State as a member of the international community, the State compared to an international organization as a legal person and other entities having lesser rights in international law, and sovereignty as an attribute of the State.


Author(s):  
Simon Usherwood ◽  
John Pinder

The European Union (EU) is a unique political organization. Illustrating how and why it has developed from 1950 to the present day, The European Union: A Very Short Introduction covers a range of topics, including the EU’s early history, the workings of its institutions and what they do, the interplay between ‘eurosceptics’ and federalists, and the role of the EU beyond Europe in international affairs and as a peace-keeper. This new edition covers the migrant crisis, the UK’s decision to leave the EU, and how the EU continues to attract new members. It concludes by considering the future of the EU, and the choices and challenges that may lie ahead.


Yurispruden ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 119
Author(s):  
Arasy Pradana A Azis

ABSTRACTThe Reformation then became a momentum for improving the issues of upholding human rights in Indonesia, where human rights matters formally entered into the division of power. On the one hand, for the first time, a ministry was formed specifically to deal with human rights matters. While outside the executive body, Law No. 39 of 1999 strengthens the position of the National Commission of Human Rights which has actually been established since 1993. This phenomenon then raises a problem statement, on how bureaucratization of human rights after Reformation is manifested through the establishment of the National Human Rights Commission and the Ministry of Human Rights. It was found that each institution gained legitimacy from political dynamics in a more democratic public space. Between the state ministries for human rights and the National Commission of Human Rights, the principle of check and balances was carried out in their role as an organ of the Indonesian bureaucracy. On the one hand, the state minister for human rights is an extension of the executive's hand in managing human rights matters. As a counterweight, the National Human Rights Commission carries out the role of the state auxiliary bodies to monitor the government’s human rights work.Keywords:    Politic of Law, Bureaucratization, Human Rigths, Ministry of Law and Human Rights Affairs, National Commission of Human Rights. ABSTRAKPeristiwa Reformasi menjadi momentum perbaikan urusan penegakan HAM di Indonesia, di mana urusan HAM secara formal masuk ke dalam pembagian kekuasaan negara. Di satu sisi, untuk pertama kalinya dibentuk satu kementerian yang secara khusus menangani urusan HAM. Sementara di luar lembaga eksekutif, Undang-Undang Nomor 39 Tahun 1999 menguatkan kedudukan Komisi Nasional Hak Asasi Manusia yang sejatinya telah terbentuk sejak tahun 1993. Fenomena ini kemudian menimbulkan satu rumusan permasalahan, yaitu bagaimana birokratisasi urusan HAM pasca reformasi termanifestasi melalui pembentukan Komnas HAM dan kementerian urusan HAM. Ditemukan bahwa masing-masing lembaga memperoleh legitimasi dari dinamika politik di ruang publik yang lebih demokratis. Antara kementerian negara urusan HAM dan Komnas HAM kemudian menjalankan prinsip check and balances dalam menjalankan perannya sebagai organ birokrasi Indonesia. Di satu sisi, kementerian negara urusan HAM merupakan perpanjangan tangan eksekutif untuk mengurus urusan HAM. Sebagai penyeimbang, Komnas HAM menjalankan peran sebagai state auxiliary bodies guna mengawasi kinerja HAM pemerintah.Kata Kunci: Politik Hukum, Birokratisasi, Hak Asasi Manusia, Kementerian Urusan HAM, Komnas HAM.


2020 ◽  
Vol 27 (4) ◽  
pp. 8
Author(s):  
Kilza Fernanda Moreira de Viveiros

Artigo trata na construção de reflexões e proposições sobre a relação da educação, direitos humanos e formação de professores para atuarem na educação básica. Aborda a relação entre o poder político e a sociedade a partir da análise do Estado como instância promotora de direitos e pelos mecanismos que o mesmo se apodera para forjá-los na educação. Analisa o papel das reformas curriculares em conformidade às políticas dominantes. Discute a formação de professores e sua relação com a pobreza, com as desigualdades sociais e direitos humanos. Os fundamentos que norteiam as análises são do campo de conhecimento educacional e pedagógico. Para elucidações contextuais apropria-se de referencial sócio histórico, das políticas educacionais e políticas curriculares. Permite o diálogo com o objeto da formação e atuação de professores na área dos direitos humanos. Artigo se organiza metodologicamente em cinco tópicos a saber: Introdução, O Estado e a promoção de direitos, Currículo enquanto princípio político, Formação de professores para os direitos humanos e Considerações. Conclui ponderando a importância do papel do Estado na promoção dos direitos humanos a partir de políticas públicas comprometidas com a educação e com a formação de professores para o trabalho com os vulneráveis, as desigualdades sociais e os direitos humanos. Também chama a atenção da educação para os direitos humanos nos diferentes níveis e modalidades de ensino, expansiva à comunidade escolar.Palavras-chave: Educação. Direitos humanos. Formação de Professores. Estado. Currículo.EDUCATION, HUMAN RIGHTS AND TEACHER TRAINING: reflections and propositions.AbstractArticle deals in the construction of reflections and propositions on the relationship of education, human rights and teacher training to work in basic education. It addresses the relationship between political power and society based on the analysis of the State as a promoter of rights and the mechanisms it takes to forge them in education. It analyses the role of curricular reforms in line with dominant policies. It discusses teacher education and its relation to poverty, social inequalities and human rights. The foundations that guide the analyses are the field of educational and pedagogical knowledge. For contextual elucidations it appropriates the socio-historical reference, educational policies and curricular policies. It allows dialogue with the subject of the training and action of teachers in the area of human rights. Article is organized methodologically in five topics: Introduction, The State and the promotion of rights, Curriculum as a political principle, Training of teachers for human rights and Considerations. He concludes by considering the importance of the role of the State in the promotion of human rights from public policies committed to education and teacher training for working with the vulnerable, social inequalities and human rights. It also draws the attention of education for human rights in the different levels and modalities of education, expansive to the school community.Keywords: Education. Human rights. Teacher Training. State. Curriculum.EDUCACIÓN, DERECHOS HUMANOS Y FORMACIÓN DE PROFESSORES: reflexiones y proposicionesResumenArtículo trata en la construcción de reflexiones y proposiciones sobre la relación de la educación, derechos humanos y formación del professora do para actuar en la educación básica. Aborda la relación entre el poder político y la sociedad a partir del análisis del Estado como instancia promotora de derechos y por los mecanismos que el mismo se apodera para forjarlos en la educación. Analiza el papel de las reformas curriculares en consonancia con las políticas dominantes. Discute la formación de profesores y su relación con la pobreza, con las desigualdades sociales y derechos humanos. Los fundamentos que guían los análisis son del campo de conocimiento educativo y pedagógico. Para aclaraciones contextuales se apropia de un marco socio histórico, políticas educativas y políticas curriculares. Permite el diálogo con el objeto de formar y actuar a los docentes en el área de derechos humanos. El artículo se organiza metodológicamente en cinco temas, a saber: Introducción, El Estado y la promoción de los derechos, El currículo como principio político, La formación del profesorado en derechos humanos y Consideraciones. Se concluye considerando la importancia del papel del Estado en la promoción de los derechos humanos a partir de políticas públicas comprometidas con la educación y la formación de docentes para trabajar con las personas vulnerables, las desigualdades sociales y los derechos humanos. También llama la atención de la educación en materia de derechos humanos en los diferentes niveles y modalidades de educación, expandiéndose a la comunidad escolar.Palabras clave: Educación. Derechos humanos. Formación del profesorado. Estado. Plan de estudios.


2018 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 45-60
Author(s):  
Pavel Ondrejek

Abstract: Positive obligations of States to protect and implement human rights are considered a part of various effects of human rights in legislations. In this article, it is argued that a crucial problem arises from the inconsistent practice of addressing violations of human rights committed by juristic persons together with a lack of underlying general theory of liability for human rights violations committed by private entities. Without a major change in the legal doctrine and case-law, we will need to remain focused on the role of the State as a guarantor of human rights, rather than on the imposition of human rights obligations on private-law entities. In this article, it is argued that the nature of the relationship between a juristic person and the State is not the only relevant aspect, as we should also examine the activity of the juristic person in question.Keywords: Positive obligations of States. Juristic persons. State-juristic person nexus. Fundamental rights. Horizontal effect.Resumo: Obrigações estatais positivas de proteger e de implementar direitos humanos são parte dos vários efeitos dos direitos humanos nas legislações nacionais. Neste artigo, argumenta-se que um problema crucial decorre da prática de abordar violações de direitos humanos cometidas por pessoas jurídicas sem uma teoria geral da responsabilidade por violações de direitos humanos cometidas por entidades privadas. Sem uma mudança importante na doutrina e na jurisprudência será preciso permanecer olhando apenas para o papel do Estado como garantidor de direitos humanos. Neste artigo argumenta-se que a natureza da relação entre uma pessoa jurídica e o Estado não é o único aspecto relevante. É preciso examinar também a atividade da pessoa jurídica em questão.Palavras-chave: Obrigações positivas dos Estados. Pessoas jurídicas.


Author(s):  
Ian Cummins ◽  
Emilio José Gómez-Ciriano

AbstractThis paper presents a comparative analysis of two reports by the UN Rapporteur on Extreme Poverty and Human Rights, one for Spain and one for the UK. In both countries, austerity policies were introduced following the banking crisis of 2008. The UN Rapporteur reports highlight the damage that was done by welfare retrenchment. In particular, the reports document the impact of austerity on the most vulnerable individuals and communities. The paper uses Somers' (2008) conceptual model of citizenship as the basis for a comparative analysis of two reports. Somers' (2008) model of citizenship is a triadic one which sees the state, market and civil society as competing elements. Each one can serve to regulate and limit the influence or excesses of the other two. Somers argues that neoliberalism has seen the dominance of the market at the expense of the role of the state and the institutions of civil society. Austerity policies saw the market dominating. Having examined the context of the two reports and their conclusions, the paper discussed the implications for individual social workers’ practice and the role of social work as a profession in tackling poverty and marginalisation.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document