Retreating rights: Human rights, pre-theoretical praxes and student activism in South African universities

A. Keet; W. Nel; S. Sattarzadeh

doi:10.20853/31-6-1632

A. Keet Nelson Mandela University Port Elizabeth South Africa e-mail:
W. Nel Faculty of Education University of the Free State Bloemfontein South Africa
S. Sattarzadeh Institute for Reconciliation and Social Justice University of the Free State Bloemfontein

DOI: https://doi.org/10.20853/31-6-1632

Abstract

This paper is a recognition-theoretical reading of a research-study on pre-theoretical understandings of human rights amongst university students as ways to logically anchor agential options for student social activism. The study shows that the expected legal and political constructions of human rights are discursively dominant. However, from the overall results of the study, it appears students have more complex pre-theoretical understandings of human rights from which they derive justice-orientations as sources for activism. We conclude this has deliberative implications for human rights praxes.

Author Biographies

A. Keet, Nelson Mandela University Port Elizabeth South Africa e-mail:

Research Associate
Nelson Mandela University

W. Nel, Faculty of Education University of the Free State Bloemfontein South Africa

Lecturer

School of Education Studies

S. Sattarzadeh, Institute for Reconciliation and Social Justice University of the Free State Bloemfontein

Postdoctoral Research Fellow

Institute for Reconciliation and Social Justice

University of the Free State

Bloemfontein

South Africa

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Retreating rights: Human rights, pre-theoretical praxes and student activism in South African universities

Abstract

Author Biographies

References

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