Cultural Relativism in the Face of the West

BRET L. BILLET is Associate Professor of Political Science at Wartburg College.

• Introduction: Universal Human Rights versus Cultural Relativism Female Circumcision Female Infanticide Female Child Prostitution Female Child Labour Trafficking Women and Female Slave Labour Conclusions and Implications Bibliography Index

"This book examines one of the most important issues in the contemporary international system. The questions relating to whether there are universally applicable human rights that transcend local cultural traditions go to the very heart of the ongoing debate over globalization. In a clear and concise manner, this book begins by explaining the basic arguments and assumptions associated with cultural relativism and with the position that human rights extend to all people across the globe. Following this, several human rights issues regarding the role of females in developing societies are examined in an extremely thoughtful and illuminating way. This book is ideally suited for courses on international politics, globalization, and human rights."- John M. Rothgeb, Jr., Professor of Political Science, Miami University of Ohio