Cultural factors have played a big role in how the U.S. deals with global human rights issues. Here are some important ways these cultural beliefs have influenced U.S. policies:
Basic Values: The U.S. was built on ideas about freedom and fairness. These beliefs guide the country’s actions to support human rights, especially since after World War II.
Laws and Regulations: The U.S. has created many important laws, like the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 and the Global Magnitsky Act (2016). These laws punish foreign leaders who are involved in human rights abuses.
Military Actions: The U.S. has used its military in places like Kosovo in 1999 and Libya in 2011. These actions were partly explained as helping people, even though many civilians were harmed—about 1,800 in Libya.
Funding Support: Between 2010 and 2020, the U.S. Department of State reported that the U.S. spent around $2 billion every year on global health and human rights projects.
Activism Impact: Movements within the U.S., like the Civil Rights Movement, have also pushed for international human rights. They remind us that the world needs better accountability for human rights.
All of these factors show how cultural beliefs continue to affect decisions the U.S. makes about foreign policy and human rights.
Cultural factors have played a big role in how the U.S. deals with global human rights issues. Here are some important ways these cultural beliefs have influenced U.S. policies:
Basic Values: The U.S. was built on ideas about freedom and fairness. These beliefs guide the country’s actions to support human rights, especially since after World War II.
Laws and Regulations: The U.S. has created many important laws, like the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 and the Global Magnitsky Act (2016). These laws punish foreign leaders who are involved in human rights abuses.
Military Actions: The U.S. has used its military in places like Kosovo in 1999 and Libya in 2011. These actions were partly explained as helping people, even though many civilians were harmed—about 1,800 in Libya.
Funding Support: Between 2010 and 2020, the U.S. Department of State reported that the U.S. spent around $2 billion every year on global health and human rights projects.
Activism Impact: Movements within the U.S., like the Civil Rights Movement, have also pushed for international human rights. They remind us that the world needs better accountability for human rights.
All of these factors show how cultural beliefs continue to affect decisions the U.S. makes about foreign policy and human rights.