Overview

Human Rights between Idealism and Realism presents human rights in action, focusing on their effectiveness as legal tools designed to benefit human beings. By combining conceptual analysis with an emphasis on procedures and mechanisms of implementation, this volume provides a multidimensional overview of human rights. After examining briefly the history of human rights, the author analyses the intellectual framework that forms the basis of their legitimacy. In particular, he covers the concept of universality and the widely used model that classifies human rights into clusters of different 'generations'. The volume then moves on to analyse of the activities of the political institutions of the United Nations, the expert bodies established by the relevant treaties, and the international tribunals specifically entrusted at the regional level with protecting human rights. The author explains how and why ithe classical array of politically inspired informal devices has been enriched by the addition of international criminal procedures and by endeavours to introduce civil suits against alleged individual violators of human rights. Finally, the volume is rounded off by a consideration of the importance of humanitarian law as an instrument for the protection of human life and dignity and an exploration of the future of human rights.

Full Product Details

Author:   Christian Tomuschat
Publisher:   Oxford University Press
Imprint:   Oxford University Press
Edition:   2nd Revised edition
Dimensions:   Width: 15.80cm , Height: 2.50cm , Length: 23.40cm
Weight:   0.694kg
ISBN:  

9780199232758

ISBN 10:   019923275
Pages:   464
Publication Date:   15 July 2008
Audience:   College/higher education ,  Undergraduate ,  Postgraduate, Research & Scholarly
Format:   Paperback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   To order  
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Table of Contents

Introduction ; 1. The General Framework of Human Rights ; 2. History of Human Rights ; 3. The Different 'Generations' of Human Rights: From Human Rights to Good Governance ; 4. Universality of Human Rights ; 5. Implementation at National Level ; 6. The Work of the Political Bodies of International Organizations ; 7. The Work of Expert Bodies: Examination of State Reports ; 8. The Work of Expert Bodies: Complaint Procedures and Fact-finding ; 9. Supervision by International Tribunals ; 10. Enforcement by States and the Role of Non-Governmental Organizations ; 11. Mitigating the Effects of Armed Conflict: Humanitarian Law ; 12. Criminal Prosecution of Human Rights Violations ; 13. Civil Suits against Human Rights Violators ; 14. Time for Hope, or Time for Despair?

Reviews

Review from previous edition A good book ... well organized and clearly written, and includes a wealth of important information (and citations). It will be particularly helpful for courses that want to place emphasis on human rights practice. It is also a healthy reminder of the fact that, despite the many setbacks, the human rights discourse is here to stay. Political Science Quarterly

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