Project led by Dr. Shahrokh Fardoust with cooperation and participation of Dr. Kemal Dervis and other leading authorities in the fields of rule of law, human rights, globalization, new technologies, and global governance
Shaping the future in order to realize the economic and social goals of protecting basic human rights and thereby maximizing human welfare is one of the fundamental challenges of While the outcome of globalization for any given country is an evolving process and specific in nature, there is already an internationally recognized human rights regime in place, which individuals across the world, including in developing countries, can take advantage of Through modern communications networks and social media, particularly for pointing out human rights abuses in their countries. There is now an emerging consensus that human rights broadly defined to include the rights to develop and achieve social progress, are the only path to a globalization that is humane and respectful of peoples’ cultures and preferences, and leads to meaningful improvements in their welfare.
Technological progress has played a critical role in accelerating economic growth and the pace of globalization; it has been key to raising standards of living and lifting millions of people out of extreme poverty. Although it appears likely to remain at least as important in the future, many uncertainties remain with regard to the transformation of technology into positive economic and social outcomes. Indeed, for many people displaced from jobs or bewildered by new, unfamiliar products, technological progress may seem to be more of a curse than a blessing.
New technologies—the Internet and social media, artificial intelligence, robotics, biotechnology, bioengineering and human cloning—have created both opportunities and risks. The role of regulation and the rule of law, at both the national and international levels, will to a large extent determine the way these new technologies affect human welfare across the world. Without the most basic protections of the rights of individuals, including their right to develop and engage in economic activities free of impediments, significant improvements in the general welfare will not be possible or meaningful in today’s globalized world. This recognition has led to a new focus on human rights in the activities of many international organizations, development agencies, and nongovernmental organizations in recent years.
The main objective of this research project is to provide a framework for determining and articulating the implications of new technologies for human rights and the welfare of global citizens under existing legal systems, regulatory regimes, and international governance. The project will also suggest areas in which regulatory regimes and international governance need to be reformed or strengthened in order to ensure sustained improvements in the welfare of global citizens. (Expected date of completion: June 2016)