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Indian Organ Trade ; From the Perspective of Weak Cultural Relativism

Haagen, Mette (2005)
Centre for East and South-East Asian Studies, Lund University
Abstract
The topic of this study was the Indian organ trade. It was assumed that the research literature on the Indian organ trade is dominated by a human rights discourse (HRD), which restricts analysis. The purpose was to examine whether thinking outside the HRD and taking a stance in weak cultural relativism could create a better understanding of the underlying causes of the Indian organ trade. Using discourse analysis the Indian reality was included and conceptualized as the "inequality poverty discourse" and discussed in relation to the HRD and to organ trade. The aim was to aid in creating a diverse basis for solving the problem of organ trade. Research questions posed was: How does the HRD influence research literature on the Indian organ... (More)
The topic of this study was the Indian organ trade. It was assumed that the research literature on the Indian organ trade is dominated by a human rights discourse (HRD), which restricts analysis. The purpose was to examine whether thinking outside the HRD and taking a stance in weak cultural relativism could create a better understanding of the underlying causes of the Indian organ trade. Using discourse analysis the Indian reality was included and conceptualized as the "inequality poverty discourse" and discussed in relation to the HRD and to organ trade. The aim was to aid in creating a diverse basis for solving the problem of organ trade. Research questions posed was: How does the HRD influence research literature on the Indian organ trade? What other causes and explanations can a stance in weak cultural relativism unveil, and which alternative solutions can be contributed to the problem of organ trade? Using empirical evidence from Bangalore it was shown that the literature was restricted by the HRD. The study concluded that organ trade cannot be stopped by legislation based in human rights, but can be countered by scientific medical studies, by providing alternatives to organ sale and by strengthening the media. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Haagen, Mette
supervisor
organization
year
type
H1 - Master's Degree (One Year)
subject
keywords
South Asia, India, Bangalore, organ trade, poverty, human rights, weak cultural relativism, Social sciences, Samhällsvetenskaper
language
English
id
1331422
date added to LUP
2005-12-28 00:00:00
date last changed
2006-03-13 00:00:00
@misc{1331422,
  abstract     = {{The topic of this study was the Indian organ trade. It was assumed that the research literature on the Indian organ trade is dominated by a human rights discourse (HRD), which restricts analysis. The purpose was to examine whether thinking outside the HRD and taking a stance in weak cultural relativism could create a better understanding of the underlying causes of the Indian organ trade. Using discourse analysis the Indian reality was included and conceptualized as the "inequality poverty discourse" and discussed in relation to the HRD and to organ trade. The aim was to aid in creating a diverse basis for solving the problem of organ trade. Research questions posed was: How does the HRD influence research literature on the Indian organ trade? What other causes and explanations can a stance in weak cultural relativism unveil, and which alternative solutions can be contributed to the problem of organ trade? Using empirical evidence from Bangalore it was shown that the literature was restricted by the HRD. The study concluded that organ trade cannot be stopped by legislation based in human rights, but can be countered by scientific medical studies, by providing alternatives to organ sale and by strengthening the media.}},
  author       = {{Haagen, Mette}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Indian Organ Trade ; From the Perspective of Weak Cultural Relativism}},
  year         = {{2005}},
}