Development and rights: Tempering universalism and relativism

Abstract

Rights are commanding increasing attention in Development Studies but the field is mined with ‘old’ questions and dilemmas. This introduction discusses the question of universalism and cultural relativism. It is argued that universalists ought to recognise the relativist element in their claim and, conversely, that cultural relativists should recognise the universal element in theirs. Rather than dismissing one view and endorsing the other, we should investigate the relations between different pratices and their ideals.