International Empirical Studies on Religion and Socioeconomic Human Rights. An Introduction

Abstract

In 1966 the General Assembly of the UN agreed on the “International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights” (adopted 1976). The preamble points out that in recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family “the ideal of free human beings enjoying freedom from fear can only be achieved if conditions are created whereby everyone may enjoy his economic, social and cultural rights, as well as his civil and political rights.” This group of human rights includes economic rights, rights with regard to social security, labour and employment, as well as cultural rights which may be regarded as a shield for the protection of human dignity, especially of specific groups, such as women, children and refugees (Vierdag 1978). In this book, the term “socio-economic rights” is used as an umbrella for these contents. This volume offers an answer, how young people in 18 countries understand and value socio-economic rights and to which degree religious convictions and practices are connected with attitudes towards these human rights. All research papers take the individual background of the respondents into account, i.e. the degree of education, migration background and value orientation. The general questions of this volume are: What religious attitudes can be found among religious and non-religious citizens with regard to socio-economic rights? Can religion be identified as a force supporting the human rights regime? Which additional concepts strengthen or weaken the consent to these rights?