Human Rights and Conflict: Exploring the Links between Rights, Law, and Peacebuilding / Edition 1

by Julie Mertus, Jeffrey Helsing, United States Institute of Peace Staff

Overview

The relationship between human rights and conflict is dynamic, complex, and powerful, constantly shaping and reshaping the course of both peace and war. Yet, despite its importance, our understanding of this relationship has long been fragmentary, chiefly because three different schools of thought-human rights, conflict resolution, and international law-have offered three different and often contradictory perspectives.

This much-needed volume brings these perspectives together to create a composite picture of the relationship between human rights and conflict. The book's distinguished contributors do not disguise die differences among them-indeed, some chapters are followed by commentaries offering an alternative view of die same subject-but they also explore the numerous ways in which human rights advocates, negotiators, peacebuilders, and relief agencies can advance and reinforce each other's work.

Human Rights and Conflict is divided into three parts, each capturing the role played by human rights at a different stage in the conflict cycle. From human rights abuses that precipitate violence, through third-party interventions and humanitarian relief efforts, to the building of peace, the volume lays out the actors and issues involved and analyzes the attendant dynamics and dilemmas.

Comprehensive, authoritative, and highly readable, this volume is an invaluable resource for professors and their students. With its cutting-edge analyses and timely coverage, it also offers important insights for seasoned practitioners and advocates.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781929223763
Publisher:	United States Institute of Peace Press (USIP Press)
Publication date:	12/28/2006
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	536
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 9.90(h) x 1.40(d)

About the Author

Julie Mertus, a former senior fellow at the Institute, is an associate professor at American University.

Jeffrey W. Helsing is Dean of Curriculum, Academy for International Conflict Management and Peacebuilding at USIP.

Table of Contents

Foreword Richard H. Solomon ix

Preface and Acknowledgments xiii

Contributors xvii

Introduction

Exploring the Intersection between Human Rights and Conflict Julie A. Menus Jeffrey W. Helsing 3

Part I The Role of Human Rights in Conflict Intensification

1 Understanding Human Rights Violations in Armed Conflict Ellen L. Lutz 23

2 Human Rights: A Source of Conflict, State Making, and State Breaking Michael S. Lund 39

3 Linking Human Rights and Conflict Transformation: A Peacebuilding Framework Lisa Schirch 63

4 Culture, Relativism, and Human Rights Kevin Avruch 97

Commentator Ram Manikkalingam 121

5 Peace as a Human Right: Toward an Integrated Understanding Abdul Aziz Said Charles O. Lerche 129

Commentator Jack Donnelly 151

Part II The Application of Human Rights in Armed Conflicts and Other Violent Conflicts

6 Claiming a Humanitarian Imperative: NGOs and the Cultivation of Humanitarian Duty Hugo Slim 159

Commentator Jonathan Moore 175

7 Humanitarian Intervention after Kosovo Richard Falk 185

Commentator Thomas G. Weiss 209

8 Holding Military and Paramilitary Forces Accountable John Cerone 217

9 Human Rights, Terrorism, and Efforts to Combat Terrorism Jordan J. Paust 239

Commentator David P. Stewart 267

10 Bridging Conflict Transformation and Human Rights: Lessons from the Israeli-Palestinian Peace Process Mohammed Abu-Nimer Edward (Edy) Kaufman 277

11 The Human Rights Dimensions of War in Iraq: A Framework for Peace Studies Julie A. Mertus Maia Carter Hallward 309

Part III The Contributions of Human Rights in Post-Armed Conflict and Postcrisis Situations

12 Human Rights, Peace Agreements, and Conflict Resolution:Negotiating Justice in Northern Ireland Christine Bell 345

13 Truth vs. Justice? Commissions and Courts Vasuki Nesiah 375

Commentator Richard Ashby Wilson 399

14 Promoting the Human Rights of Forced Migrants Susan Martin Andrew I. Schoenholtz 405

15 Human Rights Education and Grassroots Peacebuilding Janet E. Lord Nancy Flowers 431

16 Building a Democratic Middle Ground: Professional Civil Society and the Politics of Human Rights in Sri Lanka's Peace Process Alan Keenan 459

Conclusion

Toward a More Integrated Approach Julie A. Mertus Jeffrey W. Helsing 509

Indwx 525