The Basics
This theory argues that truth, knowledge, and morality can change depending on culture, time period, or individual viewpoint.
What is Relativism?
This Ancient Greek philosopher, associated with relativist ideas, questioned whether there was one objective standard of truth.
Who is Protagoras?
This debate asks whether human rights apply to everyone regardless of culture or should be interpreted according to cultural and historical context.
What is the debate between Universalism and Relativism?
Relativism recognizes that different societies have different values, beliefs, traditions, and political systems. This strength is known as respecting this.
What is cultural diversity?
This perspective argues that certain rights should apply to everyone and should not depend on culture or nationality.
What is Universalism?
According to relativism, political and moral beliefs should be understood within this rather than automatically judged by outside standards.
What is Context?
Relativist ideas date back approximately to this period of Ancient Greek history.
What is the 5th century BCE?
Relativism can support the argument that countries should have freedom to determine their own laws and political systems without this.
What is external interference?
By encouraging people to understand unfamiliar practices before judging them, relativism promotes this.
What is tolerance?
Relativism assumes that no single culture automatically has the authority to define political and moral standards for everyone. What assumption does this demonstrate?
What is different perspectives can be valid?
Relativism rejects the idea that there is one ______ standard for determining whether something is right, wrong, moral, or acceptable.
What is a universal standard?
During the 19th and 20th centuries, cultural relativism became especially influential in this academic field.
What is anthropology?
Name two areas of global politics where relativism can be applied.
Any two of: human rights, sovereignty, religion, gender, governance, freedom of expression. Or others.
Relativism challenges the idea that powerful countries should simply impose their political and moral values on other societies. This is known as challenging what?
What is cultural dominance?
A country has developed its own political system based on its history and traditions. Another country argues that the first country should adopt its political standards.
Which relativist assumption would be most relevant?
Cultures should be understood in their own context, rather than being judged solely by outside standards.
A student argues, “My society considers this practice wrong, so every society should consider it wrong.” A relativist would challenge the assumption that this society's values are automatically what?
What is universal?
Early relativist thinkers challenged this assumption: that human judgements are automatically valid for everyone, everywhere.
What is the assumption that human judgements are universally valid?
A government argues that international actors should not impose their political standards because its laws reflect its own traditions. Which two relativist concepts are most directly connected to this argument?
Cultural context and state sovereignty.
A government says, “This practice is part of our culture, so nobody outside our country can criticize it.” Which limitation of relativism does this argument potentially demonstrate?
It may justify harmful practices by using culture or tradition to defend restrictions or discrimination.
Relativism can make international cooperation more difficult because countries may disagree about values, laws, and human-rights standards. Which broader Global Politics issue does this connect to?
Differences in political and cultural values can make agreement on international standards difficult.
Relativism does not simply say that every culture is “right.” Instead, it asks us to examine beliefs according to the society's own ______ and ______ circumstances.
What are cultural and historical circumstances?
Put these developments in the correct order:
Global politics today — Protagoras — cultural relativism in anthropology
Protagoras → cultural relativism in anthropology → global politics today
A country claims that its treatment of a particular group is justified by its cultural traditions. A relativist perspective would ask you to understand the practice within its cultural context. But the theory also creates a difficult question about whether cultural tradition can be used to defend restrictions on individuals. What major Global Politics tension does this demonstrate?
The tension between cultural relativism and universal human rights.
A textbook says, “This culture believes X.” A relativist analysis warns that this statement could be problematic because it assumes everyone within the culture shares the same values. Which limitation does this demonstrate?
What is ignoring internal differences?
International actors argue that a certain right should be protected everywhere. A government responds that the right must be understood through its own cultural and historical traditions and that outside actors should respect its sovereignty.
Name the TWO competing perspectives at the centre of this situation and explain the tension between them.
Universalism and Relativism.
Universalism argues that certain rights apply universally, while relativism emphasizes cultural and historical context and can support state sovereignty and caution toward external interference.