The objective of this paper is to further explore the concept of human rights. A particular focus will be placed on the
question
of whether or not the imposition of western human rights values on non-western traditions constitutes a form of
imperialism. At the root of the issue, it seems is the issue of what should weigh more, human rights or state sovereignty. In the end, of course, there is no definitive answer to this
question. What it can, and will, do, however, is look at the dynamics of human rights in the international arena and comment on whether western rhetoric on human rights is in the sphere of imperialism, or neo-imperialism.