Human Rights: Theory and Practice is a comprehensive, interdisciplinary text written by a global team of experts with coverage and content unrivaled by any other text on the market. With contributions from an international panel of experts--including political scientists, lawyers, philosophers, and policy-makers--this text is unmatched in its ability to provide students with a practical, comprehensive and twenty-first century perspectives on the theory, study, and practice of human rights. In addition to in-depth theoretical content, the book features unrivaled coverage of human rights issues in practice, with a wide range of case studies allowing students to explore true-to-life examples from around the world. There are also dynamic pedagogical features that encourage critical analysis, challenge students to question their assumptions, and facilitate class dialogue on key issues. The fourth edition is fully up-to-date, with new readings centered on recent and relevant issues.

The eBook offers a mobile experience and convenient access along with functionality tools, navigation features and links that offer extra learning support: Find the eBook on VitalSource.

New to this Edition

• New chapters on feminism, imperialism, and the performative dimensions of human rights practice
• New chapter on politics, specifically the controversies and conflicts that emerge in their practice
• New chapters on indigenous rights, language sovereignty, the human right to water, and the Sustainable Development Goals
• All chapters have been updated and revised

Notes on Contributors
Introduction, Michael Goodhart

Part I: Theory

1. The Philosophical Foundations of Human Rights, Anthony LangloisIntroduction
The Emergence of Rights Language
Modern Human Rights
Types of Human Rights: Liberty and Welfare Rights
Group Rights
Human Rights as a Political Project
Conclusion

2. Human Rights in International Law, Rhona Smith
Introduction
Historical Evolution of International Human Rights Law
Sources of International Human Rights Law
Monitoring and Enforcing International Human Rights Law
Conclusion

3. The Politics of Human Rights, Michael Goodhart
Introduction
The Invention of Human Rights
Why Are Human Rights Controversial?
Thinking Politically about Human Rights
Conclusion

4. Feminist Approaches to Human Rights, Laura ParisiIntroduction
Women's Rights are Human Rights : Evolution of the Discourse
The Structural Indivisibility of Rights and CEDAW
Gender Equality and Human Rights: Contemporary Issues
Conclusion

5. Imperialism and Human Rights, Bonny Ibhawoh
Introduction
Linking Imperialism and Human Rights
Empire and Atrocity
Strategic Human Rights
Self-Determination and Racial Equality
Nationalism and Decolonization
Conclusion

6. The Social Life of Human Rights, Damien Short
Introduction
Sociology of Human Rights
Anthropology of Human Rights
A Common Thread: The Social Construction of Right
Conclusion

7. Human Rights Claiming as a Performative Practice, Karen Zivi
Introduction
The Human Rights Gap
Theorizing Performativity
Human Rights Performativity
Conclusion

Part II: Practice
8. Genocide, Scott Straus
Introduction
The Origins of the Concept of 'Genocide'
Theories of Genocide
Case Studies: Rwanda and Darfur
Rwanda
Darfur
Conclusion

9. Humanitarian Intervention, Alan Kuperman
Introduction to Humanitarian Intervention
Evolving Concepts of Intervention
Military Intervention
Obstacles to Effective Intervention
Unintended Consequences of Intervention
Case Study of Intervention: Bosnia
Conclusion: Lessons of Humanitarian Intervention

10. Transitional Justice, Joanna Quinn
Introduction
Retributive Justice
Restorative Justice
Reparative Justice
Putting Transitional Justice into Practice
Case Study: Uganda
Conclusion

11. Treaties, monitoring, and enforcement, Emily Ritter
Introduction
International Treaty Creation and Ratification
Compliance in Law and Action
Monitoring Compliance
Enforcement in Instances of Non-Compliance
Case Study: The Black Lives Matter Movement
Conclusion

12. Political Democracy and State Repression, Christian Davenport
Introduction
Understanding the Democracy-Repression Nexus
Case Studies: Democracy and Repression in the United States in Two Historical Periods
The Path to Peace: Directions for Future Research
Conclusion

13. Migration and Refugees, Gil Loescher & Kurt Mills
Introduction
Assessing the Problem
The Problem of Defining Refugees
The UNHCR, Human Rights, and the International Refugee Regime
Case Study: Forced Displacement in Myanmar
The Way Forward: The Need for New Alliances and New Actors
Conclusion

14. Human Rights and the Environment, Sumudu AtapattuIntroduction
What are environmental rights? Convergence between human rights and environmental protection
Synergies and challenges of using a human rights framework for environmental issues
Regional systems of human rights
Emergence of a right to a healthy environment and its implications
Case study - Teitiota v. New Zealand
Conclusion

15. Indigenous Rights and Language Sovereignty, Odilia Romero, Joseph Berra, & Shannon Speed
Introduction
From erasure to sovereignty: a trajectory of reclamation
The imposition and persistence of settler colonial structures
Human rights harms through the lens of Indigenous language knowledge keepers
Identity, language and sovereignty
Conclusion

16. Social movements and human rights, Jackie Smith
Introduction
Social Movements and Human Rights
The Diffusion of Human Rights
Case Study: Human Rights Cities "Bringing Human Rights Home"
Human Rights Globalization & Cities
Conclusion

17. Theory in Practice: Making Human Rights Claims in a Human Rights Way, Brooke Ackerly
Introduction
Universal Human Rights and Cultural Relativism
Human Rights Struggles
Case Study: Theory in Practice
Conclusion

18. Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, and Human Rights, Cricket Keating and Cindy Burack
Introduction
Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity rights as human rights
Organizing for SOGI human rights
Critiques of SOGI Human rights activism
Case Study: Uganda
Conclusion

19. Religion and Human Rights, Roja Fazaeli and Joel Hanisek
Introduction
Historical context of the relationship
A complex relationship
The Masterpiece Cakeshop Case
The Bahin Case
Conclusion

20. The human right to water, Madeline BaerIntroduction
Defining Water
The Human Right to Water
Privatization of Water
Creating the Human Right to Water in International Law
Case Study: Bolivia
Conclusion

21. The SDGs and economic rights, Inga Winkler & Matheus de Carvalho Hernandez
Introduction
History and Development of the SDGs
The Reflection of Human Rights in the Sustainable Development Agenda
Accountability: Central to Human Rights but not the SDGs
Case Study: Reducing Inequalities
Conclusion

Author Michael Goodhart, Professor of Political Science, Director of the Global Studies Center, University Honors College Faculty Fellow, University of Pittsburgh

Michael Goodhart is Professor of Political Science, Director of the Global Studies Center, and a University Honors College Faculty Fellow at the University of Pittsburgh. He is also the author of Injustice: Political Theory for the Real World (OUP, 2018).

"This text provides an excellent thematic introduction to the study of human rights, covering a wide range of issues and perspectives. The authors provide an extensive array of suggestions for further reading to provide supplementation to this material for more advanced students at the graduate level."--Michael Sullivan, St. Mary's University

"It is a good book. Its main strengths are the breadth of coverage and the relevance of these topics to students." --Jelena Subotic, Georgia State University