Terrorism and Human Rights: Power, Culture, and Subordination

Authors

Makau Mutua, University at Buffalo School of LawFollow

First Page

1

Document Type

Article

Rights

Abstract

This piece analyzes the effects of the global war on terror in the aftermath of the September 11 attacks. The author argues that under the pretext of a global war on terrorism, the United States has set out to dominate the globe in a campaign that will undoubtedly influence human rights, and diminish their respect and enforcement. Human rights will now be defined by the United States to exclude and narrow them while putting pressure on large international institutions such as the United Nations to subordinate itself to other American interests. Thinkers and advocates should work together to craft a human rights movement with cross-cultural legitimacy. The piece contends that the so-called global war on terror should not be used to exclude the contributions of non-European intellectuals and societies in the quest for a more universal human rights movement.

Recommended Citation

Makau Mutua, Terrorism and Human Rights: Power, Culture, and Subordination, 8 Buff. Hum. Rts. L. Rev. 1 (2002).
Available at: https://digitalcommons.law.buffalo.edu/bhrlr/vol8/iss1/1