Differences Between Countries
Geography: Edexcel A Level, topic 10.3.2
Human Rights Versus Economic Development
There are significant differences between countries in both their definitions and protection of human rights. Some countries prioritise economic growth over human rights.
Spectrum of attitude
- There are few countries that give human rights precedence over economic growth.
- Countries can be located on a spectrum of attitude to human rights from ‘no regard’ at one end of the scale to ‘healthy respect’ at the other end.
- Most democratic countries are committed to the principles of human rights.
- But, there are occasions when the interpretation of one of those principles by a government does not match up with that of the wider international community.
Freedom
- According to ‘Freedom House’ (a US-based NGO) countries can be:
- ‘Free’ – open political competition and respect for civil liberties.
- ‘Partly free’ – some restrictions on politics and civil liberties.
- ‘Not free’ – political rights and liberties are either absent or violated.
- A comparison with a world map of GDP provides some interesting correlations and anomalies.
Political Corruption and Human Rights
Political corruption poses a threat to human rights because of bad governance.
Corruption
- Political corruption includes:
- Election rigging.
- Allowing private people and businesses to dictate government policy.
- Taking decisions that benefit those who fund the politicians.
- Diverting foreign aid and scarce resources into the private pockets of politicians.
Governance
- Corrupt politicians do not provide good governance, and present a serious threat to human rights.
- According to ‘Tranparency.org’ (a German NGO) countries can be classified according to their levels of political corruption using a Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI).
- Unfortunately, their methodology for the CPI is not transparent; it is based on ‘expert’ assessments.
Test yourself on Differences Between Countries
How would Freedom House describe a country with open political competition and respect for civil liberties?
What is the CPI?
Which of these might happen if a government was corrupt?