CEU Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2023
| Author | Saad, Ashraf |
|---|---|
| Title | A Paradox of Human Rights Discourse: An Analysis of the Abandonment of Human Rights and the US Withdrawal from Afghanistan |
| Summary | The US withdrawal from Afghanistan in August 2021 and the subsequent seizure of power by the Taliban could be viewed as polarizing, unprecedented, and a significant setback to the US foreign policy and the liberal order. This withdrawal contradicts the long-standing history of the US advocating for human rights and democracy, making it appear inconsistent with its foreign policy objectives. Moreover, the withdrawal resulted in a series of events, including the systematic destruction of human rights institutions. Given the US's longstanding and tangible commitment to human rights in Afghanistan, this research raises the question of how to make sense of the abandonment of human rights and handing over the power to the Taliban? To address this question, this paper examines relevant IR theories, namely Realism, Liberalism, Constructivism, and Postcolonialism. The focus of this study is on the relationship between human rights and politics, specifically analyzing US involvement in Afghanistan and the subsequent transfer of power to the Taliban. The research findings reveal a complex relationship between human rights and politics, as demonstrated by the analysis of the US's role in Afghanistan and the transfer of power to the Taliban. The paper argues that while the conceptual and moral framework of human rights is pervasive and compelling, the implementation of human rights is challenging, complex, and frequently overturned in favor of alternative political objectives. As human rights are not independent of political institutions and actors, this frequently creates obstacles to their recognition as politicians prioritize their own political interests over moral considerations. Human rights get acknowledged when they are in line with the national interest. |
| Supervisor | Kurowska, Xymena |
| Department | International Relations MA |
| Full text | https://www.etd.ceu.edu/2023/saad_ashraf.pdf |
Visit the CEU Library.
© 2007-2021, Central European University