Human Rights: Between Idealism and Realism 2nd ed

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.

• a fully updated second edition of this personal statement on a broad area by a hugely influential scholar and practitioner
• Combines conceptual analysis with exploration of procedures and mechanisms of implementation
• This edition examines additional topical issues including human rights and the fight against terrorism, targeted killings, and the debate on human rights responsibilities of private entities such as multinational corporations

  New to this edition

  • A new chapter draws out the general framework of human rights, including the individual as a holder of human rights, the concepts of 'responsibility to protect' and 'human security' and exploration of human rights and emergency situations including the fight against terrorism
  • Includes coverage of the Human Rights Council and of human rights under the EU charter project
  • Examines the debate on private entities, such as multinational corporations, and human rights