Law and Individual

Tuesday, October 11, 2011, 14.30–16.00, Žofín Palace, Forum Hall

 

Keynote Speech:

André Glucksmann, Philosopher, France

Moderator:

Surendra Munshi, Sociologist, India

 

Panel Discussion:

Aryeh Neier, President, Open Society Foundations, USA

Tatsiana Reviaka, Human Rights Activist, Belarus

Vadim Klyuvgant, Lawyer, Russia

Bobo Lo, Independent Scholar and Consultant on Russia and China, United Kingdom/Australia

 

 

Surendra Munshi introduced the panel, highlighting the concept that “the individual respects law and law respects the individual.”

 

André Glucksmann reminded that the concept “that man is capable of deciding his own fate” originated in Ancient Greece. Europe has transformed its relationship between the individual and the law since the Soviet era, but this cannot be taken for granted. In Russia, “Putin thinks he is the law. He feels he has the right to dictate the law and all other individuals must obey.” In a different context, individuals, who felt they were the makers of the law caused the Financial Crisis.

Aryeh Neier posited, that “the concept of human rights is universal” and unrelated to social organization, unlike “Universalistic Schemes” such as Communism. The Arab Revolutions show that people in every part of the world share the commitment to human rights.

 

Tatsiana Reviaka, representative of the human rights movement in Belarus (the “Last European Dictatorship”) noted that Belarus is a living example of a government that completely disregards human rights. Ms. Reviaka attributed Belarus to be a “Black Hole” which is isolated from global debates. Where the only civic participation in politics occurs hidden in so-called “kitchen debates”.

 

Vadim Klyuvgant stated that we live in an age of individual intellect, but only a free and protected individual can progress intellectually. In many places human freedoms are not protected because the state considers itself above the individual. This is the situation in Russia, where Mikhail Khodorkovsky was arrested for publicly opposing corruption in Putin’s regime. Human Rights must be adopted universally in order to protect individual freedoms.

 

Mr. Bobo Lo stated that the current international situation to be one of world disorder and a world of mutual disrespect. He spoke of the global loss of confidence towards the West and that the concept of “Universalism” is much more complicated and uncoordinated than generally said to be. “The international human rights movement has next to zero impact in Russia and China.”