Human Rights and the Age of Inequality Summary, Exercise and Questions answer

Class 12 English Short Summary of Human Rights and the Age of Inequality

In “Human Rights and the Age of Inequality,” Samuel Moyn deals with the drastic mismatch between the egalitarian crisis and the human rights remedy that demands not a substitute but a supplement. He points out that the human rights regime and movement are simply not equipped to challenge global inequalities.

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Summary of Human Rights and the Age of Inequality

"Human Rights and the Age of Inequality" by Samuel Moyn is an essay pointing out significant differences between the problem of inequality and the solution proposed by human rights. The author argues that the human rights movement is not well-prepared to tackle widespread inequality and suggests that instead of replacing existing methods, there should be an addition to address this issue.

The essay begins with a story about King Croesus, a wealthy ruler from ancient Lydia, who, despite his riches, lost everything to Cyrus the Great. This tale serves as a comparison to today's society marked by inequality.

The author notes that Human Rights Day, observed on December 10th, coincides with existing inequality. He suggests that the only solution is distributive equality, but he believes achieving this is impractical in reality.

The history of human rights, according to the author, involves two stages: the post-World War II era of national welfare states and the internationalization of political economy in the 1940s. Roosevelt's call for a "Second Bill of Rights" is critiqued for its late entry and focus on "special privileges for the few" instead of protecting the masses on a global scale.

After the 1940s, human rights faced challenges due to the Cold War divide between democratic and communist nations. Post-war decolonization also didn't bring about desired human rights progress because nations favored "National Welfarism" over egalitarian human rights.

The essay questions the need for another human rights movement and draws on Herodotus' history to emphasize the importance of socioeconomic fairness under pressure from the rich to the poor.

Human rights advocates claim equal freedom and rights for everyone, but the author argues that this is not applicable in the current sociopolitical and economic system.

Moyn concludes by urging efforts to reduce inequality for a world where human rights contribute to social change and economic equality. He rejects the idea that human rights are only for the powerful and privileged. In summary, the essay explores the history of human rights and how economic inequality has limited their impact.

Human Rights and the Age of Inequality Class 12 Exercise and Question Answer

Understanding the text 

Answer the following questions.

What is the first human rights declaration adopted by the United Nations?

The first human rights declaration adopted by the United Nations is the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

 

When is Human Rights Day observed?

Human Rights Day is observed on December 10th.

What is the goal of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights?

The goal of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights is to make sure that all people have basic rights and are treated fairly.

 

What are two big stages that involve writing the history of human rights in relation to that of political economy?

Two big stages in the history of human rights are the national welfare states after World War II and the internationalization of political economy in the 1940s.

What are the facts that have been missed in Roosevelt’s call for a “second Bill of Rights”?

In Roosevelt's call for a "second Bill of Rights," he missed that the promise was more about "special privileges for the few" instead of protecting everyone.

Write the truth expressed in Herodotus’s Histories.

In Herodotus's Histories, the truth expressed is that fair treatment and sharing resources are important for a good society.

Why is the Universal Declaration of Human Rights important to you?

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights is important because it helps make sure that everyone, no matter where they live, is treated with kindness and fairness, and that they have the right to be happy and safe.

Reference to the context

Does the essay give ways on how to stigmatize inequality? Explain.

No, the essay doesn't give specific ways to stigmatize inequality. It mentions that human rights activists are good at noticing when governments or communities don't protect important values, but it doesn't provide clear steps on how to show when there's too much inequality between rich and poor. The essay suggests that new ideas are needed to make things more equal, but it doesn't give detailed ways to achieve this.

Is another human rights movement necessary? Why?

Yes, the essay talks about whether we need a new human rights movement. It suggests that the current one is good at fighting against bad things like violence and unfair treatment by governments. However, it might not be the best at ensuring everyone is treated equally in terms of money and resources. The essay thinks that for a fairer world, we might need a different kind of movement that is effective in showing when there's too much inequality and working to make things more equal for everyone.