International Human Rights in a Nutshell (Nutshell Series) (Paperback)

~ (Author), Dinah Shelton (Author), David Stewart (Author) "International human rights law has its historical antecedents in a number of international legal doctrines and institutions..." (more)
Key Phrases: United States, United Nations, General Assembly (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

The text is designed to both serve as a self-contained introduction to the international law of human rights and to complement other course materials by providing the reader with a concise overview of human rights norms and the institutional context within which they evolve. The text has grown significantly in size, however, to take account many new developments in the field. It provides the scope and highlights you need to excel in understanding this field. This will enable you to answer exam questions more quickly and accurately, and enhance your skills as an attorney. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 450 pages
• Publisher: West Publishing Company; Third Edition edition (July 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0314260145
• ISBN-13: 978-0314260147
• Product Dimensions: 7.3 x 4.9 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #414,938 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

• This item is part of The Nutshell Series.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars In depth but HORRIBLE to read, August 1, 2004

By	U2pop "u2pop" (Atlanta) - See all my reviews

International Human Rights in a Nutshell does one thing correctly: It spells out the law in clear, black and white language on human rights and some of the formations of the UN, EU, American System, and African States. On the other hand it is EXTREMELY hard to read as a book because all of the citations are put right in the middle of the reading; as such it doesn't flow at all. It still remains a very definitive reference that any scholar on human rights should have.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars all bark no bite, February 23, 2005

By	EriKa "E" (Iceland) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)

This book describes in great detail the instruments that exist to codify and protect human rights but which illustrates all too clearly the problem of inadequate enforcement instruments and procedures. The "law" empowers the UN or other bodies to "do a study" on complaints of non-compliance or violations. The creation of so many of these tools has been so politicized as to make many functions of the laws and treaties virtually useless and sometimes, apparently, contradictory (or at least open to debate and interpretation). What good is a "thorough study"? With no teeth, no authority and a backdrop of outside interfering factors (economic and political especially), these "norms" might be interpreted as existing in name only. In a section on gross violations of human rights and the UN Charter, one reads, "The required magnitude of the concept of `massive' or `gross' violations may also gradually require a lower threshold of severity as the international community becomes less tolerant of what is lawful behavior under the Charter. Viewed in this light, the human rights provisions of the Charter are `elastic clauses' whose expansion is tied to the evolving standards of international legality and decency."

It is interesting to note that there are so many different systems for presumably one basic set of human rights and principles, though again this makes sense because each nation (politicized again) has its own principles and interpretations of what is a "right". For example, European countries refuse to extradite criminals to the United States if a criminal will face the death penalty. I would also not have imagined the very extensive provisions of the African Charter on Human Rights. It differs markedly from European and American conventions and is more extensive-proclaiming not only rights but also duties. Interestingly but perhaps not as surprisingly it provides the ability for States Parties to restrict and limit the rights it proclaims at will/liberally.

Overall this is an excellent overview and convenient presentation on the subject matter, with an extensive array of information and a source for finding more in-depth information for further reading/study/examination.

3.0 out of 5 stars Nutshell Series: International Human Rights, September 26, 2007

By	L. Smith "Law Student in DFW" (Dallas, Texas United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This is a good general overview of international organizations created to protect human rights. It's a great starting point if you know nothing and need some direction. Two issues: 1) the book needs to be updated to reflect recent changes in the United Nations organization, and 2) there are so many citations to other references that it is a difficult read.