Human Rights and International Relations

Abstract

This book is about the impact of human rights on the relations among states. It seeks to bring together in one place an account of the theory of human rights (what they are; where they come from; whether they are universal); a discussion of the part they play in contemporary international politics (including East-West and North-South relations); and a view of what ought to be done about them - especially by the western powers. The central policy recommendation made by Dr Vincent is that, as a project for international society, provision for subsistence rights has a strong claim to priority over other human rights. Dr Vincent's conclusion about the place of human rights in contemporary international society neither simply endorses the notion of the advance of cosmopolitan values on the society of states, nor rests on an observation of the continuing strength of state sovereignty. He shows how the grip of the sovereign state might in fact be tightened by its successful co-option of the international doctrine of human rights.

The Role of UN Commissions of Inquiry in Developing Global Human Rights

“…Scholars have conducted extensive and intensive research on the origins and development of international human rights norms (Vincent 1986;Dunne and Wheeler 1999;Donnelly 2003;Forsythe 2006;Ishay 2008). The development of human rights norms is a combination of three complex processes: standard setting, investigation, and accountability.…”

Conceptualizing world society

“…Yet, distinctions between his use of the concept (1) as a catch-all for the political world as a whole, (2) for the shared interests of actors beyond the society of states, and (3) as the idea of a sociological unification amongst humankind, were only implicit in his writings (Vincent 1978(Vincent , 1986(Vincent , 1992(Vincent , 1993Buzan 2004, pp. 38-44;Dunne 1998, pp.…”

The Role of Education in Upholding the Development of Human Rights Regimes: the Case of the Palestinian Universities

“…These principles require that authority be exercised in a manner, which is consistent with the Rule of Law, and with due respect for the HRs which exemplifies the requirements of justice (Elgarrai, 2000;Finnis, 1980). Vincent (1986) asserted the principle that HRs have been said to express the requirements of practical reasonableness. These principles make possible the achievement of the end of human flourishing by connecting together nature and reason.…”