ABSTRACT
Three basic propositions underlie the administration's commitment to its human rights policy. First, human rights represent the genuine, historical inevitability of our times. Second, human rights are a central facet of US influence in a changing world. Third, there has been progress in the effort to enhance the human condition insofar as human rights are concerned. The Marxist idea of a linear historical progression toward a doctrinally defined world revolution has had a powerful impact on global consciousness. The quest for human rights is the central form in which mankind is expressing its political awakening. It is vitally important to recognize the centrality of the search for human rights. US foreign policy depends not only on material wealth or financial power—though the importance of both should not be underestimated—but also on spiritual attraction. Human rights are a central facet of US influence in a changing world.
