Finding Freedom in China: Human Rights in the Political Economy

SUR- International Journal On Human Rights, v. 10, n. 19, Dec. 2013

24 Pages Posted: 8 Jun 2014

See all articles by David Kinley

David Kinley

The University of Sydney - Faculty of Law; Doughty Street Chambers

Multiple version iconThere are 2 versions of this paper

Date Written: May 1, 2013

Abstract

The question of how best simultaneously to achieve and reconcile the twin desirable goals of good governance and economic prosperity has long been a focus of philosophical inquiry. In the modern (post-war) era, a new and important ingredient has been added to the mixture that binds economic and socio-political well-being -- international law, and particularly international human rights law. This paper focuses on the different roles that so-called universal rights and freedoms are said to play in forging, sustaining and destroying the relationship between economic and social well-being, and analyses what are and will be the consequences for the political economies of the West and China. Though certain conclusions are drawn as to the significance of the agency of human rights, the paper suggests that it may yet be -- as, reputedly, Zhou Enlai believed was the case regarding lessons learnt from the French Revolution -- too soon to say.

Keywords: China, International law, Human rights, Development, Economic growth, Good governance, Political freedoms

Suggested Citation

Kinley, David, Finding Freedom in China: Human Rights in the Political Economy (May 1, 2013). SUR- International Journal On Human Rights, v. 10, n. 19, Dec. 2013, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2446931

David Kinley (Contact Author)

The University of Sydney - Faculty of Law ( email )

New Law Building, F10
The University of Sydney
Sydney, NSW 2006
Australia

Doughty Street Chambers ( email )

10 Doughty Street
London WC1N 2PL
United Kingdom

HOME PAGE: http://https://www.doughtystreet.co.uk/

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