Not Even with a Pandemic: The IMF, Human Rights, and Rational Choices Under Power Relations

IF 0.8 3区社会学 Q3 POLITICAL SCIENCE

Human Rights Quarterly Pub Date : 2022-11-01 DOI:10.1353/hrq.2022.0045

J. P. Bohoslavsky, Francisco J. Cantamutto

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引用次数: 1

Abstract

ABSTRACT:Since the 1970s, neoliberalism has implied a deep reconfiguration of national economies and a significant increase in inequalities. The International Monetary Fund (IMF), which considers itself above human rights, has been a central institutional vehicle in this change through its credits and conditionalities that regularly translate into violations of the human rights of debtor states’ populations. Neoliberalism entertains a hegemonic notion of human rights that proposes a vision of them based on the—alleged—defense of civil and political rights—that focuses on the individuals and distrust of the state—to the detriment of economic and social rights—where the relational aspect is essential, and the state assumes positive obligations. This has led to strong criticism of the ineffectiveness of human rights in producing real change in the world. This article discusses this minimalist and defeatist interpretation of human rights, highlighting their transformative potential in the fields of finance and economics. Human rights can function as a method to achieve, in fields of high complexity and abstraction, objectives that today enjoy broad consensus: reducing poverty, inequality, and climate change. This study shows that the marginalization of human rights that characterizes the IMF parallels the excessive exercise of its power in the world. Finally, some indications are provided regarding how these tensions were exacerbated in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.

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即使是大流行病也不会：国际货币基金组织、人权和权力关系下的理性选择

摘要：自20世纪70年代以来，新自由主义意味着国家经济的深刻重组和不平等现象的显著加剧。国际货币基金组织（货币基金组织）认为自己凌驾于人权之上，通过其信贷和条件，一直是这一变革的核心机构工具，这些信贷和条件经常转化为对债务国人民人权的侵犯。新自由主义信奉霸权主义的人权观，提出了一种基于——所谓的——捍卫公民权利和政治权利——关注个人和对国家的不信任——损害经济和社会权利——关系方面至关重要，国家承担积极义务的人权观。这导致人们强烈批评人权在世界上产生真正变革方面的无效性。本文讨论了这种对人权的极简主义和失败主义解释，强调了人权在金融和经济领域的变革潜力。人权可以作为一种方法，在高度复杂和抽象的领域实现今天达成广泛共识的目标：减少贫困、不平等和气候变化。这项研究表明，国际货币基金组织的特点是人权边缘化，这与它在世界上过度行使权力类似。最后，提供了一些迹象，说明在新冠肺炎大流行的背景下，这些紧张局势是如何加剧的。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Human Rights Quarterly Multiple-

CiteScore

1.60

自引率

10.00%

发文量

期刊介绍： Now entering its twenty-fifth year, Human Rights Quarterly is widely recognizedas the leader in the field of human rights. Articles written by experts from around the world and from a range of disciplines are edited to be understood by the intelligent reader. The Quarterly provides up-to-date information on important developments within the United Nations and regional human rights organizations, both governmental and non-governmental. It presents current work in human rights research and policy analysis, reviews of related books, and philosophical essays probing the fundamental nature of human rights as defined by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.