Author Description

This is a broad and accessible examination of the origin and evolution of the concept of human rights. While it is often taken for granted that the concept is Western, the book points out that questions of the wisdom of drafting a statement of rights for the entire world based on western values were raised even at the time of the framing of the Universal Declaration of Human rights in 1948 and examines the criticisms of that document that have surfaced in the ensuing years from Asia and Africa that it is not of relevance to their societies. Overall, the book examines questions raised from a range of perspectives, including historical, secular, economic, philosophical, and religious.