Global Human Rights Regime

Human Rights have become increasing important in International Relations. This book examines the UN sponsored Global Human Rights Regime, pinpointing its most salient characteristics and problems. It also discusses possibilities for regime development.

The development of the global human rights framework is addressed in terms of an analysis of regime properties and problems, followed by a penetrating study of the continual questioning of the regime from within. While the state and the individual are in the center of the global human rights order, there has been a continual tendency towards extension of the regime core, which is analyzed in a separate chapter with a focus on aggregates such as non-governmental organizations and transnational business corporations.

Two chapters are dedicated to human rights in bilateral foreign policy, including the use of force for the sake of human rights. A common thread runs through these chapters: the highlighting of policy constraints and the difficulties of rational evaluation of policy performance. The historical function of the extant regime is addressed in the final chapter, notably the significance attributed to it by the UN itself.

The book is intended for a wide readership--practitioners in the field, students and academics.

Bertil Duner is head of the human rights research program at the Swedish Institute of International Affairs, Stockholm. He has written extensively on human rights matters and international relations.