The Power of Human Rights: International Norms and Domestic Change(Series Number 66 Cambridge Studies in International Relations)

This book celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by showing how global human rights norms have influenced national government practices in eleven different countries around the world. Had the principles articulated in the Declaration had any effect on the behavior of states towards their citizens? What are the conditions under which international human rights norms are internalized in domestic practices? And what can we learn from this case about why, how, and under what conditions international norms in general influence the actions of states? This book draws on the work of social constructivists to examine these important issues. The contributors examine eleven countries representing five different world regions - Northern Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa, Southeast Asia, Latin America, and Eastern Europe - drawing practical lessons for activists and policy makers concerned with preserving and extending the human rights gains made during the past fifty years.

Table of Contents:
List of contributors; Preface; 1. The socialization of international human rights norms into domestic practices: introduction Thomas Risse and Kathryn Sikkink; 2. Transnational activism and political change in Kenya and Uganda Hans Peter Schmitz; 3. The long and winding road: international norms and domestic political change in South Africa David Black; 4. Changing discourse: transnational advocacy networks in Tunisia and Morocco Sieglinde Gränzer; 5. Linking the unlinkable? International norms and nationalism in Indonesia and the Philippines Anja Jetschke; 6. International norms and domestic politics in Chile and Guatemala Stephen C. Ropp and Kathryn Sikkink; 7. The Helsinki accords and political change in Eastern Europe Daniel C. Thomas; 8. International human rights norms and domestic change: conclusions Thomas Risse and Stephen C. Ropp; List of references; Index.

Review :
"A sophisticated inquiry into when and how international human rights norms change state behavior, tracing the way transnational advocacy groups, international organizations, Western states, and domestic opposition groups interact to put pressure on offending governments...draws useful lessons for policymakers and advocates alike, stressing the importance of carrot, sticks, and the combined efforts of the world community." Foreign Affairs "The authors' spiral model provides a substantial contribution to the study of human rights norms and practices..." Gerald Pace, Global Justice "^UThe Power of Human Rights effectively melds group construction and testing, using interesting case studies by a group of younger specialists." Choice "The Power of Human Rights is a sophisticated and important book...the most complete and thought-provoking theory of political behavior in relation to human rights." American Political Science Review