Summary

Human rights, now a regular part of international relations, were not recognized as a legitimate subject of diplomatic concern prior to 1945. Jack Donnelly traces the rise of human rights issues after World War II, through the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the dark days of the Cold War, the resurgence of interest during the Carter presidency, and the Reagan administration's resistance, up to the current post-Cold War era.Although concerned primarily with the international politics of human rights, the book includes a chapter on theoretical issues, including the moral basis of human rights, problems of cultural relativism, and the place of human rights in the contemporary international society of states. Case studies of human rights violations in Chile, Argentina, South Africa, El Salvador, and Nicaragua, as well as extensive illustrations drawn from other parts of the world, lend concreteness to the discussion. Throughout the volume, Donnelly gives attention not only to the realist emphasis on power and international anarchy but also to the reality and impact of moral concerns, interdependence, international organizations, and nongovernmental organizations.Tables, boxes, photos, cartoons, and essential human rights documents accompany the text, along with features common to all Dilemmas in World Politics books--discussion questions, suggested readings, a chronology, and a glossary. International Human Rights is ideal for all levels of students in international relations, foreign policy, peace studies, international organizations, and law.