Customer Reviews

Universal Human Rights in Theory and Practice (Cornell paperbacks)

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

In a sense, this book is so good it doesn't need a review. Almost everyone knows that the Donnelly book is the standard and most readable text on human rights theory. It is a good starter book for the beginner. You'll learn something new on every page. My copy is full of irresistable, self-made underlines, markings, and comments in the margins. It's also a good reference book, one that you'll return to time and time again. Donnelly's method of abbreviation, for example, is standard for the main UN proclamation and two binding covenants (treaties): (U for UDHR; E for CESCR; and C for CCPR). The book differentiates between regimes that exist for declaratory or promotional purposes and those which are involved in implementation of policy or monitoring and enforcement, and Donnelly pulls no punches when pointing out that some state reports in response to Protocol complaints are nothing more than farces. It is found, for example, that there is little reason why the Arab League and various Third Way movements should even be considered human rights organizations. Here are some of the international human rights discussed in this book: Nondiscrimination, Life, Liberty, security of person, Protection against slavery,Protection against torture, Legal personality, Equal protection of the law, Legal remedy, Protection against arbitrary arrest, detention, or exile, Access to independent and impartial tribunal, Presumption of innocence, Protection against ex post facto law, Privacy, Freedom of Movement, Nationality, Marry and found a family, Protection and assistance of families, Marriage only with free consent, Equal rights in marriage, Freedom of thought, conscience, and religion, Freedom of opinion and expression, Freedom of assembly, Freedom of association, Participation in government, Social security, Work, Just and favorable conditions of work, Trade unions, Rest and leisure, Adequate standard of living, Education, Participation in cultural life, Self-determination, Protection of and assistance to children, Freedom from hunger, Health, Asylum, Property, Compulsory primary education, Humane treatment when deprived of liberty, Protection against imprisonment for debt, Expulsion of aliens only by law, Prohibition of war propaganda, Minority culture.

I had to read this book for a graduate class and I found it very helpful and informative as a human rights "beginner." It is not so dense that it is difficult to read but it's also not a watered-down text.

I'll split the difference, and say that while this is probably the gold standard for undergraduate texts on human rights, it does suffer from the serious flaws that Zach H notes. It has a decided bias in favor of the individualist perspective, to the point where his discussions of relativism come off as straw man arguments. He doesn't give them their due. Furthermore his utilitarian justification that rights are universal rests almost entirely on the nearly unanimous initial vote in the General Assembly for the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. This isn't terribly compelling, considering the number of abstentions and the changes in the international system brought about by decolonization. Ironically, Donnelly's recent revisions of his more basic textbook, International Human Rights, seem to respond to these shortcomings. Having used both in undergraduate courses, UHRTP is a more substantial undertaking, with a great deal more theoretical breadth and depth.

I decided to try this book for an introductory course I'm teaching about human rights. This turned out to be a mistake. Donnelly presents the case for his own 'constructivist' account of human rights but doesn't do enough to give a fair account of alternative theories. As a result, this book isn't great as an introduction to the field. It might, I guess, be of interest to those who are already familiar with the human rights literature and so don't need to be exposed to a broader range of theories. Even so, because Donnelly doesn't engage sufficiently with opposing theoretical accounts (there are plenty from which to choose), his own conclusions are likely to strike those familiar with what else is on offer as too quick, and not particularly compelling.

The barcode was cut out, along with sections of several of the last pages of the book. The book binding is ripped and the front page bent. The book is still in decent shape, but not resellable in my opinion.
Book arrived on time!

For me, the concepts discussed in this book are a tad bit confusing. Therefore, when I read through the book I make note of what it is I don't understand that way when I go back to my Human Rights and Contemporary Thought class, I can get guidance from my professor. Outside of taking this class, I would never have purchased this book.

JD is an idiot and his conclusions are all flawed and conjectures meaningless. reading this book for any other reason except that it is assigned drivel nonsense would be insane. PLEASE READ WITH CAUTION it will cause your brain to bleed from attempting to understand the pure stupidity of his theories.