IB Global Politics Demands for Recognition of Individual and Group Rights Key Definitions

Collective rights are the rights held by groups of people, often tied to their shared identity, culture, or history, such as Indigenous peoples’ rights to land or the right of minority groups to preserve their language and traditions.

Cultural relativism is the view that rights and moral standards are products of particular cultures rather than universal absolutes. It treats human rights claims as legitimate only when they fit local traditions, religion, and history.

Individual rights are the freedoms and entitlements held by each person, such as freedom of speech, the right to privacy, and the right to a fair trial, which protect individuals from interference by the state or others.

Recognition in political theory refers to the acknowledgement of the distinct identity, culture, or status of an individual or group by the state or society, as distinct from redistribution of material resources.

UNDRIP (United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples), adopted by the UN General Assembly in 2007, establishes the collective and individual rights of indigenous peoples including rights to self-determination, land, culture, and free, prior, and informed consent.

Universalism is the view that human rights belong to all people regardless of culture, religion, or nationality, because they rest on moral principles that hold everywhere. It treats a core set of rights as valid across all societies, not just where local tradition happens to support them.