The Politics of Human Rights Protection

(Paperback)

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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, abusewith its common core in inequalityis 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.

Reviews

Black has a keen eye for the abuses of power, and especially for the ways that the concentration of economic wealth impacts respect for human rights. Full of a savvy distrust for politicians and the powerful everywhere, Black nevertheless prioritizes making governments responsible. . . . Black includes some helpful references to templates developed by European agencies, especially for assessing economic and development projects, but applicable to other policies as well. * Fellowship *
A stark and powerful portrayal of rights under challenge, drawing lessons particularly from circumstances in which justice has prevailed over impunity. Black's deep understanding of her topic is highlighted by her masterful analysis of the Chilean situation before, during, and after military dictatorship enshrouded the country. -- Judge Juan Guzmn Tapia, prosecutor of Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet
Jan Black has written a one-of-a-kind primer on protecting the sanctity of human rightslegal, moral, social, political, economic, and cultural. If ever there was a scholarly preemptive strike against future abuses of human rights, this book is it. -- Peter Kornbluh
A valuable addition to the literature, full of examples, case studies, and lessons learned from all over the world. Crisscrossing disciplinary boundaries, Black offers effective strategies for human rights protection. -- Julianne Cartwright-Traylor, former chair, board of directors, Amnesty International USA
This very timely work challenges us to probe the systemic roots of rights abuse, to see that so long as some among us are unprotected, none of us is safe, and that changing the course of history is not a spectator sportwe all rise or fall together. -- Benjamin Todd Jealous, president and CEO of the NAACP
Jan Knippers Black, a great advocate for human rights and against U.S. international interventionism and war, shows convincingly how practical advance activism can prevent disastrous impacts on human rights. -- Fred Harris, former U.S. Senator and coeditor of Locked in the Poorhouse
With her usual verve, clarity, scholarship, and even humor, Jan Black gives us a fascinating guidebook to the past and future of human rights and a practical guide to building a more equitable and caring world. -- Riane Eisler, author of The Real Wealth of Nations

Author Bio

Jan Knippers Black is professor in the Graduate School of International Policy Studies, Monterey Institute of International Studies. For an interview with the author on Women News Network, please click here. To view the author discussing her book on Evening Insight, please click here.