Understanding human rights in sociological theory

Abstract

The article attempts to revive the interest in sociological theory for human rights. Theoretical pluralism in sociology doesn't introduces any barrier in this regard, but stands as the very presupposition in full apprehension of this phenomena Sociology as well as human rights have both derived from the same epochal proces - industrial revolution. Incorporation of human rights into the theoretical corpus of sociology could greatly contribute toward its intellectual inovation and heuristic enrichment The human rights and especially their protection are helping to establish a more global konvergence of cohabitation of men and collectivities without thus destroying the ontological differences in the world we live in. The author elaborates three typical theoretical traditions and their responses to human rights (conservative, revolutionary and reformist one) and opens up the problem of understanding and the enforcement of human rights in the new social contexts within the emerging postindustrial society.