Product details
- Categories: Human Rights, April 2021
- Publisher: OUP - Oxford University Press
- ISBN: 9780199246007
- Publication Date: 09/03/2021
- Binding: Paperback
- Number of pages: 256
- Language: English
Summary
In recent years, human rights have come under fire, with the rise of
political illiberalism and the coming to power of populist authoritarian
leaders in many parts of the world who contest and dismiss the idea of
human rights. More surprisingly, scholars and public intellectuals, from
both the progressive and the conservative side of the political
spectrum, have also been deeply critical, dismissing human rights as
flawed, inadequate, hegemonic, or overreaching.
While acknowledging
some of the shortcomings, this book presents an experimentalist account
of international human rights law and practice and argues that the human
rights movement remains a powerful and appealing one with widespread
traction in many parts of the globe. Using three case studies to
illuminate the importance and vibrancy of the movement around the world,
the book argues that its potency and legitimacy rest on three main
pillars: First, it is based on a deeply-rooted and widely appealing
moral discourse that integrates the three universal values of human
dignity, human welfare, and human freedom. Second, these values and
their elaboration in international legal instruments have gained
widespread - even if thin - agreement among states worldwide. Third,
human rights law and practice is highly dynamic, with human rights being
activated, shaped, and given meaning and impact through the on-going
mobilization of affected individuals and groups, and through their
iterative engagement with multiple domestic and international
institutions and processes.
The book offers an account of how the
human rights movement has helped to promote human rights and positive
social change, and argues that the challenges of the current era provide
good reasons to reform, innovate, and strengthen that movement, rather
than to abandon it or to herald its demise.