Defying Convention

Reviews / Votes

'Breaking with the conventions in political science that create stark distinctions between the study of domestic politics within nation-states and the study of international relations, Lisa Baldez takes a novel approach to the Convention to Eliminate All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW). Steeped in the literatures on international organizations, international law, US politics, and women and politics, Baldez demonstrates how the use of gender as an analytical category complicates what is thought to be known about the creation and ratification of international conventions, the status of women in the world over the past half century, and the central cleavages in national politics in both the United States and Chile. This book is thoroughly researched and clearly written, and it covers ground that has not been addressed previously. Baldez's approach is both thought-provoking and provocative.' Mary Hawkesworth, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey 'This is a lively and important book on an understudied topic, which makes valuable theoretical insights in international relations while providing rich data on CEDAW as a case study of a human rights treaty. Using the puzzling case of US non-ratification of CEDAW, Lisa Baldez convincingly argues that by all rights, the United States should have ratified CEDAW, given that the costs of doing so would be low and the norms embodied in the treaty are rhetorically consistent with US political values. Using fascinating primary sources, Baldez's analysis of the domestic and international obstacles to ratification brings the insights of comparative politics and international relations together in an original way.' Valerie Sperling, Clark University '... Baldez offers a detailed historical account of the multi-faceted arguments regarding CEDAW's ratification, and sheds much needed light on the extent to which women's rights engage competing interests and conflicting agendas domestically and internationally. Finally, by tracing the sources of deep-seated opposition to CEDAW, and illustrating that the United States' failure to ratify results in compromised human rights protections for American women, Baldez illustrates just how necessary CEDAW is as a convention to enshrine women's rights as global norms.' Wendy O'Brien, Academic Council on the United Nations System (www.acuns.org)