Description
Book SynopsisDoes the increasing prominence of Asia also mark a new era for human rights in the region? This timely book uncovers the political drivers behind both recent regional and country-based changes to the recognition, promotion, and protection of rights.
Human Rights in Asia focuses on the relationships between political regimes, institutions and cultures, and external actors, such as international organizations, NGOs, and business. The contributing authors provide important discussions on Burma, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, and the Phillipines. Thematic chapters then go on to frame these individually focused contributions, by examining the international pressure to 'normalize' rights regimes, and the relationship between Islam and rights in the region.
Providing a unique combination of country-specific and thematic analysis, this book will be a fascinating and beneficial read for postgraduate and undergraduate students in human rights and international relations, as well as scholars in politics, human rights, international relations and government and NGO analysts.
Contributors include: M.K. Connors, T.W.D. Davis, M. Ford, B. Galligan, A. Kent, A. McGregor, T. Milner, R.C. Pangalangan, S. Peou, G. Rodan, A. Saeed, R. Samaddar
Trade ReviewThis timely collection tracks legal, cultural, political and institutional developments concerning human rights and Asia over the last decade, and, crucially, helps to move the Asia/human rights discourse beyond the Asian 'values' debate. Covering both country-specific and thematic analyses, it will be a key addition to the library of all who are interested in the promotion and protection of human rights.’Asia - in all its robust variety - is a hotbed of human rights controversy and conflict. It also harbours great potential and promise to improve the standards of human rights enjoyed by its peoples. This tremendously readable and insightful collection of essays shirks neither perspective, employing an impressive array of political, economic, cultural and legal arguments as to how to exploit the good and counteract the bad.’ -- David Kinley, University of Sydney, Australia
Table of ContentsContents: Preface 1. Human Rights in Asia: Institutions, Norms and Politics Thomas W.D. Davis 2. Muslim Debates on Human Rights and Freedom of Religion Abdullah Saeed 3. International Networks and Human Rights in Indonesia Michele Ford 4. Human Rights Discourse in Post-Marcos Philippines Raul C. Pangalangan 5. Political Accountability and Human Rights in Singapore Garry Rodan 6. Contesting Human Rights in Malaysia Anthony Milner 7. Ambivalent About Human Rights: Thai Democracy Michael K. Connors 8. The Challenge for Human Rights in Cambodia Sorpong Peou 9. Human Rights Coalitions in Myanmar Andrew McGregor 10. The Politics of Human Rights in India Ranabir Samaddar 11. China’s Human Rights in ‘the Asian Century’ Ann Kent 12. Human Rights in Asia: Comparative Reflections Brian Galligan Index
