Rights and justice: contested meanings
Practice Flashcards
Flip to reveal answersWhat does it mean that a concept is 'contested'?
Track your progress — Sign up free to save your progress and get smart review reminders based on spaced repetition.
All 11 Flashcards — Rights and justice: contested meanings
Sign up free to track progress and get spaced-repetition review schedules.
Question
What does it mean that a concept is 'contested'?
Answer
Its meaning is disputed — different people understand and define it differently, so the same word is used to argue opposite things.
Question
What are rights?
Answer
Basic claims or entitlements a person can hold, often simply as a human being.
Question
What is justice?
Answer
The idea of fairness — in how people are treated and how resources or punishments are shared.
Question
Distributive vs retributive justice?
Answer
Distributive = fair sharing of resources; retributive = fair punishment of wrongdoing.
Question
What are the three generations of rights?
Answer
Civil-political (liberty), economic-social-cultural (equality), and collective/solidarity rights.
Question
What is the liberty–equality tension?
Answer
Maximising freedom can grow inequality; maximising equality can limit some freedoms.
Question
Universalism vs cultural relativism?
Answer
Universalism: rights apply to everyone everywhere; relativism: rights should reflect each culture.
Question
What is the politicization of rights?
Answer
States using rights as a political weapon — condemning rivals while excusing themselves or allies.
Question
Give a case where the meaning of justice is contested.
Answer
The death penalty — 'just' punishment to some, a rights abuse to others (US vs Europe).
Question
Give a case where rights are contested across cultures.
Answer
LGBTQ+ rights — recognised in some countries, criminalised in others.
Question
Does 'contested' mean rights have no shared meaning?
Answer
No — some rights (e.g. the right to life) are near-universal; the contest is mainly at the edges.
Read the notes
Full study notes for Rights and justice: contested meanings
Topic 2.1 hub
Contested meanings: rights, justice, liberty, equality
More from Topic 2.1
All flashcards in this topic
Global Politics exam skills
Paper structures & tips
Track your progress with spaced repetition
Sign up free — Aimnova tells you exactly which cards to review and when, so you remember everything before your IB exam.
Start Free