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204 Globalization and Democracy

from each other at the international level as they once were, coordination
between states turns into something else. In this respect, there is every
reason to consider democracy beyond the state.

Democracy and h uman r ights

Many sociologists and political theorists see the development of human
rights as a kind of democratic bridge between the international and
national levels. Jackie Smith, for example, writes:

Democracy is a delivery system for human rights, and indeed, without
human rights, we do not have democracy. Thus, a more democratic world
order is one that is organized to ensure the highest level of protection of
human rights. (Smith, 2008 : 229)

In a similar way, David Held seems to suggest that extending human
rights represents a means by which cosmopolitan democracy may be
achieved, as public law provides the conditions that ensure democratic
participation (Held, 1995a : 153 – 8).
The international human rights that most obviously promote democ-
racy are civil and political rights, prominent in the Universal Declaration
of Human Rights and later made binding on most states in the world as

they were ratified in the International Convention on Civil and Political
Rights. The rule of law is crucial to ensuring civil rights to freedom of
speech and association that enable the full expression and discussion
of political opinions, not just for participating in the electoral politics of
political parties but also for wider debate and discussion, social movement
mobilization, and demonstrations and protests. Besides civil rights to
freedom of speech and association, and political rights to vote and stand
for office that are equally uncontroversial in this respect, the UDHR also

states: “ Everyone, as a member of society, has the right to social security
and is entitled to realization, through national effort and international
cooperation and in accordance with the organization and resources of
each State, of the economic, social and cultural rights indispensable for
his dignity and the free development of his personality ” (Article 22). The
UDHR then goes on to spell out individuals ’ social, economic, and cul-
tural entitlements in detail, and these were later made binding on states

– the majority of those in the UN – that ratified the International
Convention of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. David Held argues
that social, economic, and cultural rights are as important to individual
autonomy as civil and political rights. It is only in conditions in which