The Political Sociology of Human Rights

Key Topics in Sociology

by Kate Nash

The language of human rights is the most prominent 'people-centred' language of global justice today. This textbook looks at how human rights are constructed at local, national, international and transnational levels and considers commonalities and differences around the world. Through discussions of key debates in the interdisciplinary study of human rights, the book develops its themes by considering examples of human rights advocacy in international organisations, national states and local grassroots movements. Case studies relating to specific organisations and institutions illustrate how human rights are being used to address structural imperialist geopolitics, authoritarianism and corruption, inequalities created by 'freeing' markets, dangers faced by transnational migrants as a result of the securitization of borders, and violence against women.

233 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 28, 2015

Reviews

[Evar Kristoffer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read this as part of course curriculum for “Human Rights in Development”. It does a good job of providing the sociological basis of understanding Human Rights. However, it lacked the more serious moral and political critiques of Human Rights as well as a more in-depth look into how the concept emerged, with the influence of Christian individualism, Hegelian idealism and Kantian morality.

That‘s what I missed, but of course this book was focused towards political sociology, not just about what human rights are, were or should be.

[Sara Mosquera López · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very good book for having an introduction to human rights with a critical approach.