This new edition of David Forsythe's successful textbook provides an authoritative overview of the place of human rights in international politics in an age of terrorism. The book focuses on four central themes: the resilience of human rights norms, the importance of 'soft' law, the key role of non-governmental organizations, and the changing nature of state sovereignty. Human rights standards are examined according to global, regional, and national levels of analysis with a separate chapter dedicated to transnational corporations. This second edition has been updated to reflect recent events, notably the creation of the ICC and events in Iraq and Guantanamo Bay, and new sections have been added on subjects such as the correlation between world conditions and the fate of universal human rights. Containing chapter-by-chapter guides to further reading and discussion questions, this book will be of interest to undergraduate and graduate students of human rights, and their teachers.David Forsythe received the Distinguished Scholar Award for 2007 from the Human Rights Section of the American Political Science Association.

'David Forsythe’s … analyses of the impact of human rights in changing the nature and practice of state sovereignty, of the importance of soft diplomacy, and of the role of private actors are especially important contributions that will be welcomed by the human rights community.'

Ramesh Thakur - United Nations University

‘An excellent update of a textbook very popular with my students. The chapters on transitional justice, non-governmental organizations, and international business are especially worthwhile, as is the discussion of foreign policies of countries other than the United States.’

Rhoda E. Howard-Hassmann - Canada Research Chair in International Human Rights, Global Studies Program, Wilfrid Laurier University