Periodic Reporting for period 1 - RIGHT (The ‘right’ in human rights: Aristotelianism and Neo-Confucianism at the basis of the EU-China Dialogue)
Okres sprawozdawczy: 2022-03-15 do 2024-03-14
The EU 101019777 Project, titled “RIGHT: The ‘Right’ in Human Rights: Aristotelianism and Neo-Confucianism at the Basis of the EU-China Dialogue” is a 3-year global research initiative carried out by the Marie Curie Global Fellow, Dr. Anna Irene Baka. The initial research phase is carried out at Harvard University and the return phase will take place at the Ca’ Foscari University of Venice. The RIGHT project seeks to develop a Conceptual Human Rights Framework by integrating two premodern philosophies that the project argues can foster the EU-China Political Dialogue and particularly its human rights component which is currently at a stalemate: the philosophical insights of Aristotelianism and (Neo)Confucianism. The contrast in human rights perceptions—individual liberties emphasized by the EU and social and economic rights prioritized by China—highlights the need for a theoretical framework that accommodates these diverse philosophical underpinnings. The RIGHT project addresses this by synthesizing key concepts from the Aristotelian and (Neo)Confucian traditions to produce a less confrontational and more inclusive human rights understanding. The project’s aim is not only to advance academic understanding but also to foster a concrete policy proposal, engaging directly with EU diplomats and policymakers to promote its findings. It is a major goal of the RIGHT project to showcase the potential use of its strategic insights into the broader EU-China dialogue, fostering a deeper, more effective engagement on human rights issues between these two major global actors. Dr. Baka’s expertise in Western, Chinese, and comparative philosophy, combined with her extensive background as a human rights lawyer—including her work with the National Human Rights Institution of Greece and her collaboration with major national, European, and international stakeholders—positions her uniquely to lead this pivotal project.
During the initial 3-month secondment phase of the project, a comprehensive collection of materials highlighting the absence of a conceptual human rights framework was undertaken. This phase, conducted at Ca’ Foscari University, also included extensive research on the Aristotelian component of the project.The work on the Aristotelian component continued during the outgoing phase at Harvard University, in alignment with the project’s timeline. During this period, Dr. Baka also compiled a selective and comprehensive bibliography on Confucian and Neo-Confucian philosophy. Special attention was given to the methodologies of cultural comparison and the history of ideas, drawing heavily from the European continental philosophical tradition. During the outgoing phase, substantial progress was made toward achieving the overall objective of developing a conceptual human rights framework based on Aristotelianism and (Neo)Confucianism, which is intended to enhance the political dialogue between the EU and China. The conceptual analysis of key philosophical texts has been finalized, clearly indicating that the combined framework should incorporate the Neo-Confucian works of Zhu Xi and Wang Yangming, as well as the pre-modern philosophy of Xunzi. For the Aristotelian foundations, the critical texts have been identified primarily within Politics, the Nicomachean Ethics and the Poetics, highlighting their relevance to the framework.The project has also produced, during the outgoing phase, nine (9) dissemination deliverables, which include acceptance for publication of a monograph; an invited lecture; four (4) conference papers; the organization of an international conference organized at Harvard’s EALC Department; the proposal of a collective volume under the researcher's editorship, which is currently under discussion as well as an online course. During the outgoing phase, the project has also successfully conducted four (4) public engagement activities, including the project’s website; a dedicated Departmental post at Harvard University; a blog post on the American Philosophical Association’s blog; a series of social media posts by the Department of Philosophy and Cultural Heritage of the Ca’ Foscari University of Venice and the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions’ Facebook page.The exploitation strategy has so far paved the way to the channelling of the research results into four (4) intellectual products: a contracted monograph; a website; an educational module and an edited volume currently under discussion with a renowned Publisher.
The RIGHT project represents a significant advancement over existing approaches by integrating Aristotelian and (Neo)Confucian philosophies in legal theory to develop a human rights framework that respects and incorporates diverse cultural perspectives. This innovative synthesis addresses the stark differences in human rights perceptions—individual liberties emphasized in the EU versus the relational perspective on rights in China—offering a more inclusive and less confrontational basis for dialogue.
The project is set to finalize a comprehensive conceptual human rights framework that will be presented through various academic outputs, including a monograph, journal articles and papers at international conferences. This framework will potentially be promoted in policy dialogues to enhance the EU-China Human Rights Dialogue. Additionally, a dedicated human rights policy tool shall be developed as part of the project to assist policymakers in evaluating the effects of legislation and policy from a culturally informed perspective. The socio-economic impact of the RIGHT project is anticipated to be substantial, facilitating improved mutual understanding and cooperation between the EU and China, thus potentially easing political tensions and fostering more stable bilateral relations. Politically, by facilitating the EU-China Dialogue, the RIGHT project is poised to substantially improve EU-China relations and directly support Goal 16 of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, aligning with strategic priorities outlined in the new 2021-2027 EU programming (Horizon Europe). Societally, the project is expected to influence global human rights practices by promoting a more empathetic and culturally sensitive approach, encouraging global stakeholders to consider a broader array of philosophical inputs in their human rights policies. The project also aims to enrich academic and practical understanding of human rights, potentially influencing future academic curricula and contributing to a richer global dialogue on human rights. The collaboration between institutions such as Harvard University and Ca' Foscari University of Venice, along with the engagement of european and international bodies, underscores the project's capacity to impact human rights discourse at multiple levels, from local to global, from academia to policy.
The project is set to finalize a comprehensive conceptual human rights framework that will be presented through various academic outputs, including a monograph, journal articles and papers at international conferences. This framework will potentially be promoted in policy dialogues to enhance the EU-China Human Rights Dialogue. Additionally, a dedicated human rights policy tool shall be developed as part of the project to assist policymakers in evaluating the effects of legislation and policy from a culturally informed perspective. The socio-economic impact of the RIGHT project is anticipated to be substantial, facilitating improved mutual understanding and cooperation between the EU and China, thus potentially easing political tensions and fostering more stable bilateral relations. Politically, by facilitating the EU-China Dialogue, the RIGHT project is poised to substantially improve EU-China relations and directly support Goal 16 of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, aligning with strategic priorities outlined in the new 2021-2027 EU programming (Horizon Europe). Societally, the project is expected to influence global human rights practices by promoting a more empathetic and culturally sensitive approach, encouraging global stakeholders to consider a broader array of philosophical inputs in their human rights policies. The project also aims to enrich academic and practical understanding of human rights, potentially influencing future academic curricula and contributing to a richer global dialogue on human rights. The collaboration between institutions such as Harvard University and Ca' Foscari University of Venice, along with the engagement of european and international bodies, underscores the project's capacity to impact human rights discourse at multiple levels, from local to global, from academia to policy.