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The International Human Rights Movement: A History
A fascinating history of the international human rights movement as seen by one of its founders
During the past several decades, the international human rights movement has had a crucial hand in the struggle against totalitarian regimes, cruelties in wars, and crimes against humanity. Today, it grapples with the war against terror and subsequent abuses of government power. In The International Human Rights Movement, Aryeh Neier--a leading figure and a founder of the contemporary movement--offers a comprehensive and authoritative account of this global force, from its beginnings in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries to its essential place in world affairs today. Neier combines analysis with personal experience, and gives a unique insider's perspective on the movement's goals, the disputes about its mission, and its rise to international importance.
Discussing the movement's origins, Neier looks at the dissenters who fought for religious freedoms in seventeenth-century England and the abolitionists who opposed slavery before the Civil War era. He pays special attention to the period from the 1970s onward, and he describes the growth of the human rights movement after the Helsinki Accords, the roles played by American presidential administrations, and the astonishing Arab revolutions of 2011. Neier argues that the contemporary human rights movement was, to a large extent, an outgrowth of the Cold War, and he demonstrates how it became the driving influence in international law, institutions, and rights. Throughout, Neier highlights key figures, controversies, and organizations, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, and he considers the challenges to come.
Illuminating and insightful, The International Human Rights Movement is a remarkable account of a significant world movement, told by a key figure in its evolution.
During the past several decades, the international human rights movement has had a crucial hand in the struggle against totalitarian regimes, cruelties in wars, and crimes against humanity. Today, it grapples with the war against terror and subsequent abuses of government power. In The International Human Rights Movement, Aryeh Neier--a leading figure and a founder of the contemporary movement--offers a comprehensive and authoritative account of this global force, from its beginnings in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries to its essential place in world affairs today. Neier combines analysis with personal experience, and gives a unique insider's perspective on the movement's goals, the disputes about its mission, and its rise to international importance.
Discussing the movement's origins, Neier looks at the dissenters who fought for religious freedoms in seventeenth-century England and the abolitionists who opposed slavery before the Civil War era. He pays special attention to the period from the 1970s onward, and he describes the growth of the human rights movement after the Helsinki Accords, the roles played by American presidential administrations, and the astonishing Arab revolutions of 2011. Neier argues that the contemporary human rights movement was, to a large extent, an outgrowth of the Cold War, and he demonstrates how it became the driving influence in international law, institutions, and rights. Throughout, Neier highlights key figures, controversies, and organizations, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, and he considers the challenges to come.
Illuminating and insightful, The International Human Rights Movement is a remarkable account of a significant world movement, told by a key figure in its evolution.
392 pages, Hardcover
First published April 2, 2012
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201 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
May 6, 2015
Neier has been at the centre of the development of this concept and from sheer experience has become a very good academic; there are a lot of cases in the book that trace the development of 'Human Rights' and some analysis of "What are 'Rights?" (Section 2) is very holistic, indeed, but Neier fails to accord due attention to the theoretical conception of Human Rights, doesn't talk enough about the development of and in Gender-Equality and doesn't really give any solutions to the problems he identifies.
Neier is trying very hard to pull no punches that much is self-evident from the reading and in doing so he can only but skirt and tread around the History of the International Human Rights Movement.
Published by Princeton Press this is a good read but one lacking in soul and passion.
Neier is trying very hard to pull no punches that much is self-evident from the reading and in doing so he can only but skirt and tread around the History of the International Human Rights Movement.
Published by Princeton Press this is a good read but one lacking in soul and passion.
June 9, 2012
This is an excellent book if you are looking for an overview of human rights history. The only reason it does not get five stars is that the language slows the pace of reading. It will be a keeper on my reference shelf.
March 3, 2021
Well written with plenty of narrativization for good immersion. It wasn't completely chronological but mostly so. Had good coverage about the UDHR, and ICCPR various Human Rights organizations. Explained that global Human Rights organizations are generally harder for governments to ignore, but local ones are necessary in order to get the data about what is happening on the ground.
Also interesting was how pivotal signing the Helsinki accord was to the Soviet Union as it included Human Rights which eventually helped lead to the downfall of the Soviet Union tyranny.
And another good point is that at least in some areas it was found that punishing the human rights abusers could be counter-productive as they or their affiliated organization may rebel. Instead simply showing the truth of the matter even without names and helping people make better decisions in future is effective.
Also interesting was how pivotal signing the Helsinki accord was to the Soviet Union as it included Human Rights which eventually helped lead to the downfall of the Soviet Union tyranny.
And another good point is that at least in some areas it was found that punishing the human rights abusers could be counter-productive as they or their affiliated organization may rebel. Instead simply showing the truth of the matter even without names and helping people make better decisions in future is effective.
April 9, 2025
best book on human rights
If you wish to understand contemporary human rights, this book is a must. Written nicely, it really allows to grasp the logic of the movement, its key points and trends. Not cheap, but worth every penny and I will be coming back to it many times!
If you wish to understand contemporary human rights, this book is a must. Written nicely, it really allows to grasp the logic of the movement, its key points and trends. Not cheap, but worth every penny and I will be coming back to it many times!
January 7, 2013
A critical read for anyone concerned about international politics
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June 28, 2013323 N3974 2012
March 3, 2015
Enjoyed this book, but it was extremely US-centric, which I found annoying.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews