Human Rights in International Relations

Themes in International Relations

by David P. Forsythe

This fourth edition of David P. Forsythe's successful textbook provides an authoritative and timely analysis of the place of human rights in an age of upheaval in international politics. Human rights standards are examined at the global, regional and national levels, with separate chapters on transnational corporations and advocacy groups. Completely updated and revised, the fourth edition takes account of new sources and recent scholarship, as well as recent events, such as the Syrian war, the rise of ISIS, refugee flows, South Sudan crises, and the resurgence of nationalism. A new chapter has been added on the media and human rights, covering both traditional and social media. Examining attempts to protect human rights by various actors, such as the United Nations, the European Union, transnational corporations, and the media, the book stresses that the open-ended fate of universal human rights depends on human agency in this context. Containing further reading suggestions and discussion questions, this textbook is a vital resource for courses on human rights in an international context.

Genres: Nonfiction, International Relations, History, Politics

432 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2000

Reviews

[Ali Nazifpour · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the gist of this book: "The international law on human rights is based on a liberal philosophy, but the practice of the states is usually based on a realist perspective". The book deals with the contradictions within human rights more than anything, whether internal contradictions or contradictions between practice and philosophy.

This book is a very useful resource for everyone interested in human rights in international relations. Unlike most similar books which deal with international law, the book mostly avoids getting bugged down in a laundry list of agreements and dry chronology, instead provides a good summary and overview of historical trends.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good description of the EU and its functions