Global Good Samaritans: Human Rights as Foreign Policy

Alison Brysk

ISBN 10: 0195381580 / ISBN 13: 9780195381580

Editore: Oxford University Press, 2009

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Leichte Kratzer / Abnutzungen / Druckstellen; Vergilbt / ausgeblichen. In a world where governments often harm their own citizens, some states prioritize the protection of vulnerable foreigners, risking lives and resources. Canadian peacekeepers have sacrificed their lives in Afghanistan for humanitarian efforts, while Sweden contributes over $3 billion annually to aid the poorest and struggling democracies without expecting anything in return. Costa Rica once defied U.S. influence to broker peace in Central America and now collaborates with countries like South Africa to support the International Criminal Court, despite facing U.S. pressure and aid cuts. These actions have saved countless refugees, showcasing a commitment to global human rights.The book examines why certain states actively promote human rights, arguing that humanitarian internationalism is a consistent political approach rather than mere altruism. It challenges the realist perspective that prioritizes national interest, suggesting that constructivist frameworks can shed light on how ideas and identities shape state behavior. Brysk illustrates how democratic middle powers, motivated by visionary leaders and robust civil societies, recognize the connection between their long-term interests and the global good. She posits that promoting human rights could be a viable option for more states, enhancing the international human rights regime alongside grassroots movements and efforts to democratize global governance.

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Dati bibliografici

• Titolo: Global Good Samaritans: Human Rights as Foreign Policy
• Editore: Oxford University Press
• Data di pubblicazione: 2009
• Lingua: Inglese
• ISBN 10: 0195381580
• ISBN 13: 9780195381580
• Rilegatura: Softcover
• Condizione: Fine
• Cataloghi dei venditori:
  • Political Science & Politics

Descrizione articolo

Riassunto

In a troubled world where millions die at the hands of their own governments and societies, some states risk their citizens' lives, considerable portions of their national budgets, and repercussions from opposing states to protect helpless foreigners. Dozens of Canadian peacekeepers have died in Afghanistan defending humanitarian reconstruction in a shattered faraway land with no ties to their own. Each year, Sweden contributes over $3 billion to aid the world's poorest citizens and struggling democracies, asking nothing in return. And, a generation ago, Costa Rica defied U.S. power to broker a peace accord that ended civil wars in three neighboring countries-and has now joined with principled peers like South Africa to support the United Nations' International Criminal Court, despite U.S. pressure and aid cuts. Hundreds of thousands of refugees are alive today because they have been sheltered by one of these nations. Global Good Samaritans looks at the reasons why and how some states promote human rights internationally, arguing that humanitarian internationalism is more than episodic altruism-it is a pattern of persistent principled politics. Human rights as a principled foreign policy defies the realist prediction of untrammeled pursuit of national interest, and suggests the utility of constructivist approaches that investigate the role of ideas, identities, and influences on state action. Brysk shows how a diverse set of democratic middle powers, inspired by visionary leaders and strong civil societies, came to see the linkage between their long-term interest and the common good. She concludes that state promotion of global human rights may be an option for many more members of the international community and that the international human rights regime can be strengthened at the interstate level, alongside social movement campaigns and the struggle for the democratization of global governance.

Informazioni sull?autore

Alison Brysk is Professor of Political Science and International Studies at the University of California-Irvine. She has authored or edited six books on international human rights. In 2007, she held the Fulbright Distinguished Visiting Chair in Global Governance at the University of Waterloo Centre for International Governance Innovation.