A Case Study of the Socialization of Human Rights Language and Norms in Maldives: Process, Impact and Challenges

Abstract

The introduction of the language and social values expounded through the discourse of human rights, within the domestic societal and political structures of countries where they were previously alien or unknown, presents a fascinating set of dynamics highly relevant and valuable for furthering human rights advocacy. This article maps out the emergence of human rights discourse in Maldives—a small country with a history of human rights violations and no democratic accountability mechanisms until recently—within the context of recent political and societal changes, employing the ‘spiral model’ of human rights socialization developed by Risse, Ropp and Sikkink. The study analyses the available historical accounts of the recent democratic transformation in Maldives and how the language of human rights has been institutionalized and mainstreamed during this period, with particular emphasis on the process of social acceptance and internalization of the language of human rights.