The Liberal Project And Human Rights: The Theory And Practice Of A New World Order

Description

The 'Liberal Project' aims to transform society in accordance with liberal values and practices. This volume argues that the United Nations regime on human rights is an attempt to realise this project on an international level. The authors provide an engaging theoretical and historical context for this argument, defining the concept of liberalism, its origins and evolution, and identify it as a universal value that constitutes the very essence of the international human rights regime. The book explores the possibility of a cross-cultural consensus on the issue being reached, but problems of sovereignty and nationalism are also discussed as potential obstacles to the Liberal Project's completion. This penetrating and insightful work will appeal to a wide range of scholars and students interested in liberalism and human rights from the fields of international relations, law, political theory and political philosophy. Cover......Page 1 Title......Page 2 Title - Full......Page 4 Copyright......Page 5 Dedication......Page 6 Contents......Page 8 List of abbreviations......Page 9 Preface......Page 12 Introduction: what is liberalism?......Page 14 Part I - Liberal beginnings......Page 30 1 - The contextual origin of liberal thought and practice......Page 32 2 - The Westphalian society of sovereign states......Page 55 3 - The growth of liberal universalism......Page 72 Part II - The UN regime on human rights......Page 92 4 - The UN and regional declarations and covenants on human rights......Page 94 5 - The right of peoples to self-determination......Page 123 6 - The right to development and development assistance......Page 149 7 - Women's international human rights......Page 213 8 - The implementation of international human rights......Page 236 Part III - Critique and defence of liberalism......Page 302 9 - Western critiques of liberal human rights......Page 304 10 - Liberalism and non-Western cultures......Page 331 11 - In defence of liberalism......Page 363 Notes......Page 378 Index......Page 437