Marcelo
Neves: Die symbolische Kraft der
Menschenrechte*
The article deals with
„The Symbolic Force of Human Rights“. Firstly, it restricts the
meaning of the term „symbolic“ and of the expression
„symbolic force“. Secondly, it discusses two matters: (1) a
semantic matter, concerning the meaning of human rights; and (2) a pragmatic
matter, related to utterance of human rights’ holders. The article
emphasizes that it is not about „eternal“ rights, but rather a
legal-political construction and conquest of modernity. Based on such
assumptions, the author goes to the core of his argument, characterizing the
symbolic force of human rights as ambivalent: on one hand, it serves for the
generalized affirmation and accomplishment of rights related to legal inclusion
in conditions of structural dissension; on the other hand, it acts as a manner
of political manipulation, whether to conceal circumstances involving lack of
rights or, more abruptly, to give cause to political oppression. In this
regard, the article focuses, firstly, on the symbolic force of human rights at
the level of National States, and then within the international and worldwide
context. Finally, the author states a brief critique concerning the rhetorical
use of human rights by the nowadays’ unique superpower, the United States
of America.