Human Rights, now in its fourth edition, is an introductory text that
is both innovative and challenging. Its unique interdisciplinary
approach invites students to think imaginatively and rigorously about
one of the most important and influential political concepts of our
time.
Tracing the history of the concept, the book shows that there are
fundamental tensions between legal, philosophical and social-scientific
approaches to human rights. This analysis throws light on some of the
most controversial issues in the field: What are the causes of
human-rights violations? Is the idea of universal human rights
consistent with respect for cultural difference? Are we living in a
'post-human rights' world?
Thoroughly revised and updated, the new edition engages with recent
developments, including the Trump and Biden presidencies, colonial
legacies, neoliberalism, conflict in Syria, Yemen and Myanmar, the
Covid-19 pandemic, new technologies and the supposed crisis of liberal
democracy. Widely admired and assigned for its clarity and
comprehensiveness, this book remains a 'go-to' text for students in the
social sciences, as well as students of human-rights law who want an
introduction to the non-legal aspects of their subject.
