Human Rights and Revolutions - Softcover

The rise to prominence of human rights discourse carries much promise, as well as grave threats, in the context of structures of power and dominance. These searching, thoughtful, and highly informative essays inquire into the nature and origin of human rights from varied perspectives, unravelling intricate and often conflicting strands of history, practice, and doctrine. The collection is an impressive contribution to understanding, and should be a valuable guide to constructive action as well.--Noam Chomsky With human rights now at the top of the international agenda, we must consider whether the concept is universal or bound by history and culture with different meanings around the world. This elegant, wide-ranging collection of essays thoughtfully explores the origins, evolution, and contemporary significance of human rights and provides a much-needed, deeply analytical guide to understanding how to interpret today's debates. Everyone who cares should read it; everyone will learn something new.--Daniel Chirot, University of Washington This is an excellent collection on an important topic. The contributions cover an admirably diverse set of times and places.--Kenneth Pomeranz, University of California Irvine "American Historical Review " This is an exemplary collection of essays by a wonderfully diverse (both in their disciplines and their opinions) group of scholars and intellectuals. They demonstrate, above all, that strenuous historical analysis can light up the contemporary political world.--Michael Walzer, Institute for Advanced Study, Princeton University

Jeffrey N. Wasserstrom is associate professor of history at Indiana University. Lynn Hunt is Eugen Weber Professor of French History at the University of California, Los Angeles. Marilyn B. Young is professor of history at New York University.