Do people everywhere have the same, or even compatible, ideas about multiculturalism, indigenous rights or women's rights? The authors of this book move beyond the traditional terms of the universalism versus cultural relativism debate. Through detailed case-studies from around the world (Hawaii, France, Thailand, Botswana, Greece, Nepal and Canada) they explore the concrete effects of rights talk and rights institutions on people's lives.

‘It is difficult to fault this excellent collection, which is very well edited and rich in detail and theoretical analysis.’

Gerard Delanty Source: Global Review of Ethnopolitics

' … this edited volume will be of much interest to those interested in contextualising and in thinking across the notions of universalism and cultural relativity. The contributors very eloquently make their case in their ethnographically varied articles, leaving the reader with plenty to think about and even, at times, reconsider their stances. This is definitely an edited volume worth reading.'

Maria Gropas Source: Cambridge Anthropology Journal

‘… this is a serious book that addresses important political issues and challenges the adequacy of the anthropological and legal concepts that impinge on them … what this excellent book shows is that the standardized legal form that the international definition of rights has taken cannot easily accommodate the complex realities of the world as it is.’

Source: The Journal of The Royal Anthropological Institute

‘the book shows clearly and accurately the pitfalls of the adoption of an essentialist view on ‘culture’. Moreover, it points out eloquently that there is no unique theoretical model that can be sufficiently applied to nay claims over rights and culture across the global … will assist and advance the discussion on the implementation of rights.’

Source: Nations and Nationalism