Paradigms of International Human Rights Law

Paradigms of International Human Rights Law explores the legal, ethical, and other policy consequences of three core structural features of international human rights law: the focus on individual rights instead of duties; the division of rights into substantive and nondiscrimination categories; and the use of positive and negative right paradigms. It first explains the types of individual, corporate, and state duties available. It then evaluates how substantive rights and nondiscrimination rights are used to protect similar values through different channels. Lastly, it discusses negative and positive paradigms by dispelling a common misconception about positive rights.

Aaron Xavier Fellmeth is Professor of Law and the Willard H. Pedrick Distinguished Research Scholar at Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law, Arizona State University. He specializes in public international law, international human rights law, international legal theory, and international business transactions. He serves on the Board of Directors of the International Law Association (American Branch), where he is also Director of Studies and Chair of the International Human Rights Committee. He has published widely inter alia in public international law, international legal theory, and international human rights law. He authored a coursebook entitled Law of International Business Transactions (now in its second edition, 2011). He co-authored (with Maurice Horwitz) the Guide to Latin in International Law (Oxford, 2009).