Human Rights and Democracy: The Precarious Triumph of Ideals

Description

The 20th century has been described as the bloodiest in human history, but it was also the century in which people around the world embraced ideas of democracy and human rights as never before, constructing social, political and legal institutions seeking to contain human behaviour. Todd Landman offers an optimistic, yet cautionary tale of these developments, drawing on the literature, from politics, international relations and international law. He celebrates the global turn from tyranny and violence towards democracy and rights but also warns of the precariousness of these achievements in the face of democratic setbacks and the undermining of rights commitments by many countries during the so-called 'War on Terror'. Cover Half-title Title Page Copyright Page Contents ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS LIST OF TABLES AND FIGURES Chapter 1 Introduction Notes Chapter 2 Abundance and freedom Introduction The correlates of democracy Political actors and political processes Examining the ‘outliers’ Summary and implications Notes Chapter 3 Democracy and human rights Introduction ‘Thick’ and ‘thin’ definitions of democracy Human rights: Evolution and protection Human rights: Definition and content Democracy and human rights Summary and implications Notes Chapter 4 Waves and setbacks Introduction Democracy’s journey Democratic setbacks Summary: The fifth wave? Notes Chapter 5 Evidence and explanations Introduction Modernization Macro-historical change Games of transition The making of democracy International dimensions Summary Notes Chapter 6 Agents and advocates Introduction Domestic mobilization International mobilization Summary Notes Chapter 7 Truth and justice Introduction Choice of truth mechanism Mandate and scope of a truth process Methods for uncovering the truth Types of justice and the impact of truth processes Summary Notes Chapter 8 Threats and pitfalls Introduction Conflict Terrorism Economic globalization Climate change Summary Note Chapter 9 Benefits and outcomes Introduction Democracy qua democracy Democratic peace Economic benefits Environmental outcomes Summary Note Chapter 10 Hopes and challenges A tale of three women Abundance and freedom Democracy and human rights Waves and setbacks Evidence and explanations Agents and advocates Truth and justice Threats and pitfalls Benefits and outcomes A precarious triumph References Index