This volume of specially commissioned articles is devoted to a consideration of how the subject of human rights impacts on contemporary politics and on the discipline of political science. It assesses the role of human rights in political theory, international law and international relations and in relation to the politics of different regions of the world. An international group of contributors includes political scientists, political philosophers, academic lawyers and those with experience of human rights campaigning.

David Beetham is Professor of Politics and Director of the Centre of Democratization Studies at the University of Leeds.