The Politics of Human Rights Protection

This important work argues that human rights abuse is not necessarily about distant places and peoples, and it is neither incomprehensible nor inevitable. Despite the appearance of consensus about the importance of human rights protection, abuse—with its common core in inequality—is expanding at all levels from the petty to the profound. Designed to inform and inspire, this book also provides the analytical and strategic tools needed for the next generation of activists. Jan Knippers Black offers a fundamental reexamination of the basic terms and concepts, legal and institutional foundations, controversies, cleavages, threats and strategies associated with human rights.

Black's perspective is holistic, stressing the relevance of human rights issues to all human needs and endeavors and requiring multidisciplinary analysis. Chapters analyzing connections among political, economic, ecological, and cultural impacts on social and individual well-being are accompanied by case studies highlighting lessons learned from success or failure. This empowering book seeks to promote an "each for all" commitment, breaking through barriers of ignorance and apathy, denial and despair, so that advocates and activists can work to prevent future atrocities.