'Moral and material resources' and the social construction of India's Right to Food Act. Issue 9 (21st October 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Bailey, Sara
• Is Part Of: International journal of human rights. Volume 25:Issue 9(2021)
• Page Start: 1503
• Page End: 1524
• Publication Date: 2021-10-21
• Subjects: Civil society -- human rights -- right to food -- social rights -- sociology of human rights -- sociology of rights; Human rights -- Periodicals; Civil rights -- Periodicals; 323
• DOI: 10.1080/13642987.2020.1852216
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1364-2987

Abstract

ABSTRACT: The case study presented in this article analyses the social construction of India's Right to Food Act of 2013 in light of the extant literature on the social construction of human rights. It argues that Lockwood's novel hypothesis – that human rights are created by elite actors using the enhanced 'moral and material resources' that they have at their disposal, not in their own self-interests, but in the interests of the less advantaged – is borne up by the present case study, (although less advantaged social actors were involved in the campaign for the Act). The article also seeks to extend Lockwood's theory by examining which moral and material resources contributed the most to the creation of the Act and why. Finally, drawing on Waters, the article proposes that political elites' need to consolidate political support was an important factor in securing the Act. In conclusion, this paper argues that further research on the perceived needs of the less advantaged in respect of the Right to Food Act's content must be undertaken if we are to be sure it genuinely reflects their interests. The article is based on in depth socio-historical research including a review of hundreds of documents and 37 interviews.