Human Rights Education Beyond Universalism and Relativism (PDF)

Fuad Al-Daraweesh is Adjunct Professor of Philosophy of Education at The University of Toledo, USA. He is the associate editor of In Factis Pax: Online Journal of Peace Education and Social Justice.

Dale T. Snauwaert is Professor of Philosophy of Education, Director of the Center for Nonviolence and Democratic Education, and Co-Director of the Graduate Certificate Program in the Foundations of Peace Education at The University of Toledo, USA. He is the founding editor of In Factis Pax: Online Journal of Peace Education and Social Justice.

"Human Rights Education Beyond Universalism and Relativism offers educators the foundation of the reconciliation of two seemingly contradictory approaches to the spheres of human experience that have given rise to the concept of human rights, universalism and cultural relativism, contending modes of thinking that have posed challenges to the emergence of a global moral inclusion regime. Al-Daraweesh and Snauwaert offer a framework and a potential alternative world view that holds the promise of constructive, potentially transformative change, and provide an unambiguous goal for this alternative, global justice." From the preface by Betty A. Reardon, founder and director of the Peace Education Center and Peace Education Graduate Degree Concentration, Teachers College, Columbia University, USA

"Al-Daraweesh and Snauwaert offer analysis and insights that broaden the conceptual terrain of human rights education, providing important theoretical tools for educators working amidst larger debates about universalism and cultural relativism. With this book, the authors have made a significant contribution to the field of human rights education." - Monisha Bajaj, Associate Professor of International and Multicultural Education, and Faculty Director, MA in Human Rights Education, University of San Francisco, USA

"Al-Daraweesh and Snauwaert invite us to critically reflect upon the foundations and purposes of our work as peace and human rights educators in an increasingly diverse world. Their alternative relational hermeneutic approach to human rights provides an important contribution to human rights theory and human rights learning, elaborating both a conceptual framework and methodology for a culturally inclusive, inquiry based human rights pedagogy for global justice." - Anita Yudkin-Suliveres, Coordinator, UNESCO Chair for Peace Education, University of Puerto Rico