The Struggle for Human Rights and Freedom: Historical Resistance Against the Obstacles of Capitalism Seyhan Uludag
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The Struggle for Human Rights and Freedom: Historical Resistance against the Obstacles of Capitalism Seyhan Uludag The history of human freedom and democracy has been shaped by struggles in different geographies and cultures around the world. These struggles have led to the achievement of human rights, social justice and democratic values. Humanity has faced various systems of oppression, from slavery to feudalism, from monarchy to capitalism, and has continued its search for freedom and justice in every period. Examples such as the rights of black people, the rights of women and the rights of the working class show the universal nature of these struggles and how valuable the gains are. The French Revolution overthrew the monarchy at the end of the 18th century with the slogans of freedom, equality and fraternity and laid the foundations of modern democracy. The revolution secured the fundamental rights of individuals with the Declaration of Human Rights and universalised the concept of democracy. This event inspired other revolutions and independence movements around the world. In the 19th century, anti-slavery movements made a great impact in the United States and around the world, and important steps were taken to abolish slavery. However, this struggle was not limited to the United States, and anti-slavery movements were also successful in countries such as Brazil. These gains demonstrate the universality of the struggle for freedom and human dignity. The struggle for women's rights has gained great momentum since the late 19th century. The suffragette movement became the symbol of women's struggle for the right to vote. In 1920, with the adoption of the 19th Amendment in the USA, women were granted the right to vote, and this achievement inspired women's movements in other countries. In the second half of the 20th century, the feminist movement made significant gains on issues such as gender equality, contraception, abortion rights and discrimination in the workplace. These movements strengthened women's demand for equality in social, economic and political life. An important milestone in the struggle for women's rights was the adoption of 8 March International Working Women's Day. In 1857, textile workers in New York struck against poor working conditions and low wages, and their struggle became a symbol for women's labour rights worldwide. In 1910, at the International Women's Congress held in Copenhagen, it was decided to celebrate 8 March as Working Women's Day upon the proposal of Clara Zetkin. This day provided an important platform for women to make their demands for equality and justice heard internationally and became a symbol of the struggle for women's social, economic and political rights. With the Industrial Revolution, the working class had to struggle with heavy working conditions and long working hours. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, trade unions and socialist movements made great efforts for workers' rights. In 1886, the Haymarket Events in the USA was a turning point in which many workers lost their lives as a result of police intervention to suppress strikes demanding an 8-hour working day. However, this event gave a great impetus to the labour movement and led to the celebration of 1 May as Labour Day. Today, the 8-hour working day and other labour rights have become globally accepted standards. In the mid-20th century, the passive resistance movement led by Mahatma Gandhi in India played an important role in the struggle for independence from the British Empire. Gandhi's struggle strategy, based on the principles of non-violence and civil disobedience, has inspired many movements for freedom and justice around the world. The struggle against the apartheid regime in South Africa is also an important page in the history of human rights. The struggle of Nelson Mandela and other freedom fighters ended long years of oppression and discrimination. The election of Mandela as the first black president of South Africa in 1994 was one of the most important achievements of this struggle. Capitalism remains a major obstacle to the struggle for freedom and justice today. Income inequality, social inequalities and environmental destruction are the main problems created by the capitalist system. According to Oxfam's 2020 report, the richest 1 per cent of the world own 82 per cent of the total wealth. This income inequality leads to increased social unrest and conflicts. Moreover, according to the International Labour Organisation (ILO), more than 40 million people worldwide work in conditions of modern slavery. This shows how critical the struggle for labour rights is. The pressures of the capitalist system are not limited to the economic sphere; they also threaten political and social rights. The strengthening of autocratic regimes and the restriction of freedom of expression and democratic rights are a reflection of the problems created by the capitalist system. According to Freedom House's 2021 report, more than 40 per cent of the world's population lives in countries that are not fully free. This shows how important and necessary the struggle for democracy and human rights is. The global effects of capitalism are particularly devastating in developing countries and war zones. Many countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America have been exploited by imperialist powers and their natural resources plundered. The people living in these regions have suffered greatly, both economically and socially. For example, in the Congo, conflicts over the control of mines have led to the death and displacement of millions of people. In the Middle East, the struggle for control over oil resources has been a constant source of war and instability in the region. These wars threaten not only the peoples of the region but also global peace. The wars and tyranny created by the capitalist system have negatively affected the lives of millions of people around the world. The Vietnam War, the occupation of Iraq, the ongoing conflicts in Afghanistan and many other examples show the deep wounds left on humanity by the wars waged by capitalist states for the sake of their interests. These wars not only bring military destruction, but also deeply shake the economic and social structure. Poverty, migration and social traumas caused by wars create effects that last for generations. Struggles for human rights and freedoms continue today as in the past. Concern for the future leads young generations to take to the streets demanding a more just and sustainable world. Global protests on issues such as climate crisis, income inequality and gender equality are the most important examples of the struggle against the capitalist system today.
