ABSTRACT
There are three reasons for complying with the rules of a social system such as the liberal international order: coercion, self-interest and legitimacy. Generally, the more legitimate a norm, the less coercion is needed to achieve obedience to it. The declining power of the West, traditionally the principal promoter of international liberalism, allows us to see more clearly if non-Western states voluntarily obey liberal values. Against the background of Western decline, this chapter examines the support of two major African democracies – Nigeria and South Africa – for human rights on the UN Human Rights Council. Focusing on political rights resolutions, it is found that overall Nigeria and South Africa supported the curtailment of liberalism. These actions, coupled with problems such as the rise of right-wing populism in Brazil and India, suggest that major democracies from the developing world are unlikely to sustain the legitimacy of human rights at the international level.
