The Fragility of Rights
Summary
Rights are not natural law but socially enforced preferences maintained by collective commitment and institutional design. They fragment under pressure (war, crisis, coordination failure). Durability requires: clear boundaries, enforceability, cultural consensus, and continuous maintenance. No rights are self-sustaining; all require active protection.
Key Concepts
- Rights as forged preferences – Social constructions requiring enforcement, not inherent properties
- Fragmentation under pressure – Rights collapse when institutions fail or consensus breaks
- Maintenance requirement – Continuous cultural/institutional work needed to sustain rights