
Sovereignty, State Failure and Human Rights
Petty Despots and Exemplary Villains
Neil Englehart(Author)
Routledge (Publisher)
1st Edition
Published on 12. December 2019
Book
Paperback/Softback
208 pages
978-0-367-88460-4 (ISBN)
Description
This book argues that the effectiveness of the state apparatus is one of the crucial variables determining human rights conditions, and that state weakness and failure is responsible for much of the human rights abuses we see today. Weak states are unable to control their own agents or to police abuses by private actors, resulting in less accountability and more abuse. By contrast, stronger states have greater capacities to protect human rights; even strong authoritarian states tend to have better human rights conditions than weak ones.
The first two chapters of the book develop the theoretical connections between international law, sovereignty, states and rights, and the consequences of state failure for these relationships. The empirical chapters (Chapters 3-6) test the validity of these theoretical claims, employing a multi-method approach that combines quantitative and qualitative methods. Englehart uses case studies of Afghanistan, Burma/Myanmar and the Indian state of Bihar to analyze types and patterns of state failure, based on analysis of NGO reports, archival research, primary and secondary texts, and interviews and field research.
Examining what happens to human rights when states fail, the book concludes with implications for scholars and activists concerned with human rights. This book will be of great use to scholars of international relations, comparative politics, human rights law and state sovereignty.
The first two chapters of the book develop the theoretical connections between international law, sovereignty, states and rights, and the consequences of state failure for these relationships. The empirical chapters (Chapters 3-6) test the validity of these theoretical claims, employing a multi-method approach that combines quantitative and qualitative methods. Englehart uses case studies of Afghanistan, Burma/Myanmar and the Indian state of Bihar to analyze types and patterns of state failure, based on analysis of NGO reports, archival research, primary and secondary texts, and interviews and field research.
Examining what happens to human rights when states fail, the book concludes with implications for scholars and activists concerned with human rights. This book will be of great use to scholars of international relations, comparative politics, human rights law and state sovereignty.
More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Taylor & Francis Ltd
Target group
College/higher education
Postgraduate and Undergraduate
Dimensions
Height: 234 mm
Width: 156 mm
Weight
640 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-367-88460-4 (9780367884604)
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Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

Book
05/2017
1st Edition
Routledge
€215.41
Shipment within 10-20 days

E-Book
05/2017
Routledge
€59.49
Available for download

E-Book
05/2017
Routledge
€59.49
Available for download
Person
Neil A. Englehart is Associate Professor in the Department of Political Science at Bowling Green State University, USA.
Content
Introduction
1. Rights and the State
2. State Failure
3. A Global View
4. Afghanistan: Catastrophic Collapse
5. Burma/Myanmar: The Illusion of Strength
6. Bihar: The Privatization of Violence
Conclusion
1. Rights and the State
2. State Failure
3. A Global View
4. Afghanistan: Catastrophic Collapse
5. Burma/Myanmar: The Illusion of Strength
6. Bihar: The Privatization of Violence
Conclusion