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Universal rights down to earth / Richard Thompson Ford.

By: Series: Amnesty International global ethics seriesPublication details: New York : W. W. Norton & Co., c2011.Edition: 1st edDescription: 141 p. ; 22 cmISBN:
  • 9780393079005 (hardcover)
  • 0393079007 (hardcover)
Subject(s): DDC classification:
  • 323 23
LOC classification:
  • JC571 .F629 2011
Contents:
Rights in theory -- Rights in practice -- Conclusion.
Summary: The idea of universal rights--rights shared by all, regardless of nationality, creed, wealth, or geography--has a powerful grip on the way many people feel about justice and global politics. No one should be subjected to torture or disappearance, to starvation or sex trafficking, to economic exploitation or biased treatment under the law. But when it comes to actually enforcing these rights, the results rarely resemble the ideal. In this bold new book, legal expert Richard Thompson Ford reveals how attempts to apply "universal" human rights principles to specific cultures can hinder humanitarian causes and sometimes even worsen conditions for citizens. Ford explores cases ranging from food distribution to the poor in India to sex work in Japan, illustrating how a rights-based approach to these problems often impedes more effective pragmatic measures. The bad news is that improving lives worldwide isn't as easy as making a declaration. But the good news, as Ford demonstrates, is that if we are clear-eyed and culturally aware, it can be done.--From publisher description.
Holdings
Item type Current library Shelving location Call number Copy number Status Date due Barcode
Book Book NMC Library Stacks JC571 .F629 2011 (Browse shelf(Opens below)) 1 Available 33039001262764

Includes bibliographical references (p. 127-132) and index.

The idea of universal rights--rights shared by all, regardless of nationality, creed, wealth, or geography--has a powerful grip on the way many people feel about justice and global politics. No one should be subjected to torture or disappearance, to starvation or sex trafficking, to economic exploitation or biased treatment under the law. But when it comes to actually enforcing these rights, the results rarely resemble the ideal. In this bold new book, legal expert Richard Thompson Ford reveals how attempts to apply "universal" human rights principles to specific cultures can hinder humanitarian causes and sometimes even worsen conditions for citizens. Ford explores cases ranging from food distribution to the poor in India to sex work in Japan, illustrating how a rights-based approach to these problems often impedes more effective pragmatic measures. The bad news is that improving lives worldwide isn't as easy as making a declaration. But the good news, as Ford demonstrates, is that if we are clear-eyed and culturally aware, it can be done.--From publisher description.

Rights in theory -- Rights in practice -- Conclusion.

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