Why Human Rights Still Matter in Contemporary Global Affairs

by Mahmood Monshipouri (Editor)

Overview

This book elucidates why human rights still matter in contemporary global affairs, and what can lead to better protection of international human rights in a post-liberal order.

It blends theoretical, empirical, and normative perspectives, while providing much-needed analysis in light of the perils of populism, authoritarianism, and toxic nationalism, as well as highlighting the hopes with which people around the world view human rights in the new millennium. Systematically combining theoretical perspectives from across the disciplines with numerous case studies, it demonstrates not only the complexities of the domestic conditions involved, but also the ways in which human dignity can be preserved and promoted during periods of rapid change and uncertainty. Finally, the book addresses the question of how to protect human rights in such a world in which the active promotion of democratic values and enforcement of human rights may not be necessarily aligned with evolving economic and geopolitical interests of many great and diverse powers on the global scene. As such, it is a timely intervention for human rights as a concept as it has been attacked and eroded by the instability in our world today.

This book will be of key interest to scholars and students of human rights in politics, law, philosophy, sociology, and history and to humanitarian bodies, practitioners, and policy makers.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781000065732
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	04/29/2020
Series:	Routledge Studies in Human Rights
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	396
File size:	1 MB

About the Author

Mahmood Monshipouri is Professor of International Relations at San Francisco State University and a Lecturer of Middle Eastern Politics at the Global Studies/International and Area Studies, University of California, Berkeley, USA.

Table of Contents

List of Contributors Acknowledgements 1. Why Human Rights Still Matter in Contemporary World Affairs Part I: Framing the Human Rights Discourse 2. How Do Human Rights Matter? 3. Broadening Human Rights: The Case for a Pluralistic Approach 4. Making Human Rights Meaningful Through Practice: Lessons From the Middle East 5. Assessing Regional Human Rights Systems: from Convergence to Divergence Part II: Human Rights Practice: Legal and Moral Responsibility 6. State Responsibility and International Law 7. Human Rights and Humanitarian Action Will Endure: The Case of International Committee of the Red Cross 8. Denial and Debilitation: Environmental Rights and the Harm of Climate Change Denial 9. Transitional Justice: From Accountability to Peace Part III: Protecting Economic Rights in a Globalizing World 10. Labor Rights as Human Rights: Theoretical Foundations and Practical Implications 11. The Trajectory of the Right to Food in Brazil: The Debate Between Means and Access 12. Social Movements, Development Policy, and Human Rights 13. Migrant Workers and Human Rights in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Countries 14. Human Rights and Inequality Part IV: Human Rights Challenges in a Fractured, Violent, and Intolerant World 15. Threats to Freedom of the Press 16. Addressing Religious Intolerance in an Increasingly Illiberal World 17. Neoliberalism and Women’s Rights 18. Climate Refugees, Forced Migrants, and the Syrian Crisis Part V: The Way Forward 19. The Resilience of Rights in a Post-Liberal World Selected Bibliography Index

Editorial Reviews

"An outstanding collection of expert essays on many enduring philosophical issues and contemporary human rights debates. Every chapter provides avenues for further reading, suggestions for future research and ideas for improving human rights protection."

David Cingranelli, Co-Director of the Human Rights Institute, Binghamton University, SUNY, USA.

"Are human rights outdated in our post-liberal world? This book brings together a diverse and distinguished set of scholars who argue for the continuing relevance of human rights in the struggle for social justice across the globe."

Jack Donnelly, Andrew Mellon Professor, Josef Korbel School of International Studies, University of Denver, USA.

"This timely, well-researched, and provocative book should be compulsory reading for everyone who cares about the future of human rights in a time of xenophobic nationalism, authoritarianism, and climate change denial."

Eric Stover, Faculty Director of the Human Rights Center, University of California, Berkeley, USA.

"Why Human Rights Still Matter in Contemporary Global Affairs inspires much-needed optimism about the future of human rights, despite challenges from many directions. The book’s diverse authors provide constructive proposals for how human rights advocates can effectively attack today’s most salient global human rights concerns, such as economic inequality, and environmental justice in a world confronted by climate change."

Lisa Sundstrom, Co-Director of the International Relations Program, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.

"An outstanding collection of expert essays on many enduring philosophical issues and contemporary human rights debates. Every chapter provides avenues for further reading, suggestions for future research and ideas for improving human rights protection." - David Cingranelli, Co-Director of the Human Rights Institute, Binghamton University, SUNY, USA

"Are human rights outdated in our post-liberal world? This book brings together a diverse and distinguished set of scholars who argue for the continuing relevance of human rights in the struggle for social justice across the globe." - Jack Donnelly, Andrew Mellon Professor, Josef Korbel School of International Studies, University of Denver, USA

"This timely, well-researched, and provocative book should be compulsory reading for everyone who cares about the future of human rights in a time of xenophobic nationalism, authoritarianism, and climate change denial." - Eric Stover, Faculty Director of the Human Rights Center, University of California, Berkeley, USA

"Why Human Rights Still Matter in Contemporary Global Affairs inspires much-needed optimism about the future of human rights, despite challenges from many directions. The book’s diverse authors provide constructive proposals for how human rights advocates can effectively attack today’s most salient global human rights concerns, such as economic inequality, and environmental justice in a world confronted by climate change." - Lisa Sundstrom, Co-Director of the International Relations Program, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada

From the Publisher