Human Rights and Revolutions

Reviews / Votes

This book is a necessary addition to a research collection, because it provides a comprehensive framework and well chosen set of cases to illustrate the state of the art of the major debates in the human rights field. * H-Net: Humanities and Social Science Reviews Online * The authors argue convincingly that without revolutions human rights would never have become a political reality, even though countries that never have had a revolution have done a better job of preserving freedom. Many of the essays are interrelated in that they illustrate one or another or both of these themes. On the whole, this is an interesting, worthwhile, and thought-provoking book. Social and political philosophers might gain a great deal from understanding the history of the concepts that they use and argue about. -- Robert van Wyk * Human Rights Revolution * A noteworthy contribution to our understanding of the complexities involved in the human rights discourse. * International Relations * This is an excellent collection on an important topic. The contributions cover an admirably diverse set of times and places. * American Historical Review * Altogether, we have here an exemplary set of thoughtful, erudite, and often provocative essays that provides readers with a rich and profound understanding of immensely important and complex issues. * Contemporary Sociology * There are some astute insights in this volume. * American Journal of Islamic Social Studies * This is a fine collection of thirteen essays on human rights, each of which can stand on its own, and each author displays impeccable credentials. Together, they have much to offer. * Journal of World History * The rise to prominence of human rights discourse carries much promise, as well as grave threats, in the context of structures of power and dominance. These searching, thoughtful, and highly informative essays inquire into the nature and origin of human rights from varied perspectives, unraveling intricate and often conflicting strands of history, practice, and doctrine. The collection is an impressive contribution to understanding and should be a valuable guide to constructive action as well. -- Noam Chomsky, Laureate Professor, University of Arizona This elegant, wide-ranging collection of essays thoughtfully explores the origins, evolution, and contemporary significance of human rights and provides a much-needed, deeply analytical guide to understanding how to interpret today's debates. Everyone who cares should read it; everyone will learn something new. -- Daniel Chirot, University of Washington This is an exemplary collection of essays by a wonderfully diverse-both in their disciplines and their opinions-group of scholars and intellectuals. They demonstrate, above all, that strenuous historical analysis can light up the contemporary political world. -- Michael Walzer, Institute for Advanced Study, Princeton University