Mobilizing for Human Rights in Latin America - Softcover

Cleary, Edward

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1565492412 ISBN 13: 9781565492417

Publisher: Kumarian Press, 2007

Synopsis

In the follow-up to his widely read The Struggle for Human Rights in Latin America, author Edward Cleary examines some of the robust human rights movements of the past two decades in Mobilizing for Human Rights in Latin America. Advocates of the rights of women, indigenous groups, the landless, and street children have achieved notable gains, so much so that in 1999 the New York Times claimed that women have achieved more rights in Latin America than in any other region. Cleary establishes a record of why, how, where, and when human rights reached this level.

It is often assumed that the concept of human rights is something that must be imported by Western liberal democracies to developing countries. Cleary shows that human rights has a long history in Latin America distinctive from other traditions and that this tradition has expressed itself profoundly since the military period. He argues that the region’s unique history is not only creating solutions to issues such as corruption and minority rights, but also can offer a valuable balance to the larger international discourse on human rights.

About this title

About the Author

Edward Cleary is professor of political science and director of Latin American Studies at Providence College. He was president of the Bolivian Institute of Social Study and Action and edited Estudios Andinos. He is author of The Struggle for Human Rights in Latin America, Crisis and Change, and other works.

Review

"A refreshing and engaging look at how millions of people across the region are recognizing their common humanity and articulating a set of demands in the language of rights, a language that is not necessarily European, foreign or ethnocentric, but one that has deep roots in the history and tradition of the Latin American region itself."

"An essential work for scholars, activists, and anyone interested in the field of human rights. The author swiftly moves through the legacies and traditions that have evolved into the struggles and achievements of contemporary Latin American societies, and the result is a work that is easy to read yet by no means superficial."

"A superb introduction to Latin America through a detailed discussion of human rights issues and a must-read for students and scholars interested in social movements. Cleary offers a balanced analysis of the struggles of the downtrodden. He gives us an accurate account of what has has been accomplished and what remains to be done in the area of human rights in Latin America."

"Ed Cleary's latest book clearly shows that the struggle for human rights in Latin America did not disappear after the end of military rule and a return to democracy in the 1980s. The movement has expanded its agenda and now numbers over a million NGOs. He gives us a succinct and balanced summary of the achievements and limitations of these new organizations and their invaluable contributions to strengthening civil society in Latin America."

"This timely volume reflects the full spectrum of Latin America's contemporary reality and continuing struggle for human rights. Its welcome focus on empowerment and attention to women, indigenous peoples, and the poor shed light on the politics of possibility for the hemisphere's most marginalized citizens."

Edition details

• Publisher: Kumarian Press
• Publication date: 2007
• ISBN 10: 1565492412
• ISBN 13: 9781565492417
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 224