Human Rights in Global Politics

Rating:
Summary: good theory
Review: good read. reveals epistmological groundings of human rights...

Rating:
Summary: In-depth, thought provoking, disturbing, stimulating
Review: Premise and Review:
This book exposes the contradictory thoughts, politics, and practices of human rights. It explores philosophical and practical foundations of the universality of human rights and human wrongs. It explores who is responsible for the implementation of human rights and to what degree. The book examines the failures, the successes, the setbacks and the gains of various groups, not only governments, but NGO's, the media, grassroots efforts, and individuals. It looks at the gaps in interpretation and implementation of human rights. Different authors tackle the compliance gap from a different angle and propose a way to close it. From start to finish, the reader is taken on a tour of the theory and implementation of global human rights.

Why should you read this book?
The book is a compilation of essays around different aspects in Human Rights. If you are interested in getting a wide perspective and different, sometimes conflicting, ideas to think about in order to form a more better opinion of your own, this would be the book to read. The first half of the book looks at the Human Rights issue and if there is a way to define global human rights without prescribing human nature and eclipsing cultural diversity. Some articles are philosophical, some appealing to good politics, at least one opposed to the concept of universality, and others tugging at heartstrings, but all make impacting statements about their perspective.
The second half of the book looks at specific human wrongs and how norms can be implemented. Different subjects are tackled looking at historic development and/or current global politics from many levels.
The book provides an excellent background into the political actions, academic debates, and historical events in the subject of human rights.
If the reader has a keen interest in getting more scope and insight into this complex issue this is a highly recommended book and I recommend taking it slow and with a highlighter. Each writer specializes in presenting an in-depth analysis of one facet of the complex problem often interpreting historical and current political events and examining different arenas of influence. The editors did a superb job of making sure that a wide range of thought and approaches were included.

Why shouldn't you read this book?
The book isn't necessarily for the lay reader. Some authors assume the reader has prior familiarity and background with different historical events, such as Westphalia, or political philosophies, such as Locke. However, not knowing these should not impede the reader's understanding too greatly. It certainly doesn't require any cross-referencing or additional research to understand the text. Some of the writing is in difficult and abstract language. There are parts that seemed dry or long. This book is definitely not casual reading material but is more like a textbook on the subject. It isn't a book a person will stick with long if there isn't something driving them to read it, be it external or internal. The subject is huge and overwhelming and it is easy for even the most empowered and politically active individual to feel dwarfed by the magnitude of human wrongs and the struggle to define human rights.