Human Rights, Neoliberalism, and the UN's Balancing Act

Parallel to the UN's advancement of global human rights norms and initiation of "the age of rights," neoliberalism emerged as a rival global norm. This study discusses the danger posed by neoliberalism in its two forms/phases, "neoliberalism for austerity" and "neoliberalism for human rights." It elucidates how "neoliberalism for human rights" appropriates and distorts human rights discourse and objectives through the delineation of its three mantras: "diversity and inclusion," "multistakeholders," and "public-private partnership." Noting the UN's engagement of corporations and the pervasive influence of neoliberalism, the article raises concerns about the human rights impact of the UN's delicate balancing act

Environmental ethics · Human rights · Law and economics · Neoliberalism (international relations · Political economy · Political science · Sociology · Human Rights and Development · Law · Philosophy