Debating human rights /

Studies of human rights often include ideological bias and tend to overemphasize legalistic minutiae at the expense of clear analysis of practical policy making. Chong (Rollins College) fortunately presents an excellent, readable interpretation of human rights law that is objective and informative. His format is based on case studies organized into competing arguments for or against debatable hypotheses, and he includes "multiple actors" such as NGOs and international governmental organizations (IGOs) rather than focusing solely on state involvement. In fact, Chong portrays NGOs and IGOs as strong moral influences on states. The author's theoretical approach includes equal coverage of realism and liberalism, and the volume's structure makes it highly suitable as a textbook. Concepts and terms are well-defined, and accuracy prevails. Perhaps Chong relies too much on US sources, and the issues raised overemphasize US concerns, but this book is aimed mainly at American students. It is strongly recommended as a thoughtful, up-to-date, evenhanded guide for the study of human rights. --Arthur Klinghoffer, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Camden