Contending Discourses on Human Rights and Dignity in the Post-World War II Era

Abstract

This article examines the contending discourses on human dignity among leading figures of the “Third World”—a disparaging category for the downtrodden nations of the world—within the context of the 1948 Universal Declaration on Human Rights (UDHR). It delves into the discursive contestations played out by figures from Third World nations, which had just gained independence or were in the process of decolonization. In particular, this article examines discourses on human rights and dignity by Sukarno, Indonesia’s independence leader, and others who vehemently fought against colonialism based on their ideology and faith.