Examples Of Cultural Relativism

Cultural Relativism

Universalist argue that the thing which is hindering human rights universality is cultural relativism. Cultural relativism means that human moral values differ from one society to another base on diverse cultural perspectives. Individual actions and their moral values derive from their own culture. Therefore, morally right is culturally context-dependent and people behave according to their own culture (Ayton-Shenker 1995, p.2 and Anjum 2013, p. 169). This mean that cultural relativism does not allow one culture to influence the beliefs and customs of others (Wright 2014, p.5). Some people use relativism to interpret, protect and promote human rights in a diverse way according to different cultures (Ayton-Shenker 1995,

Strong cultural relativism means culture is the primary source of the legitimacy of moral values and rules. They believe that only culture can determine the rights of people. Therefore, they welcome only a few fundamental rights of universal process and allow only a slightly number of overlapping rights. Weak cultural relativism assumes that culture may be a substantial source of moral values and rules. Their belief on the relation of culture and rights is not very strong like the former one. Consequently, they realize difference types of universal human rights and welcome other rights except some which are strictly limited by their local norms (Donnelly 1984, p.401). The concept of fundamentalism may be the product of strong cultural

Therefore, some sates denied supporting human rights law because they believe it can destroy their own non-western culture (Wright 2014, p. 4). Since the day of adopting human rights doctrine, Saudi Arabia argued that the norms and values of human rights are contradict to the values of Quran (Anjum 2013, p.170). Some states which ruled their citizens according to the religious rules (Sharia law) like Brunei did not sign the Human Rights Declarations. Moreover, Singapore asked exceptionalism from universal human rights because she believe that “Asian values” are reverse to the Western norms (Frank 2001, p.195). Unlike the western countries, the philosophies and religions of many non-western countries have strong society focus and deep stress on duties and social responsibilities. They favour community rights rather than individual claims (Wright 2014, p.5). It is the significant differences between human rights value and non-western cultures. In Africa, their traditional culture allowed only collective rights. Therefore, for example, according to their land ownership law only collective land ownership are allowed. No individual has the rights to own private land. Africa perspective on human rights is literally opposite to the west priority Therefore, modern human rights norms are not compatible with the requirements of non-western