Human Rights in an Advancing Civilization (Originally $34.95)

The international human rights system is both the process and the product of an ongoing dialogue between peoples and cultures throughout the world. But what do human rights mean today? How have we arrived here? And where are human rights going?

Human Rights in an Advancing Civilization examines these questions and makes four claims:

• that human rights have been applied more broadly over time as our sense of community has expanded
• that communities and societies change, and ideas about identity and rights change with them
• that our understanding of human rights is based on our view of human nature
• and human rights support the exploration and fulfillment of identity by protecting human potential and purpose.

"This book serves as a highly readable introduction to the history of the emergence of human rights ideas. Emmel weaves together thinkers of different eras and backgrounds in a seamless and imaginative way and applies their thinking to current dilemmas. The book’s rich sweep also contextualises some Bahá’í thinking and teachings within this historical, philosophical and political introduction to the development of human rights and, as such, offers much food for thought. As he notes at the end 'the dialogue about the meaning of human rights and everything they must protect is far from over and will continue as long as we continue to evaluate who we are and who we want to be.’" ~ Dr. Nazila Ghanea, University Lecturer in International Human Rights Law at the University of Oxford and Fellow of Kellogg College