Charles R. Beitz

Not an especially easy book to absorb, but well worth the effort. Beitz is a singular representative of the "human rights as practice" school, and thus his meticulously structured arguments comprehensively present the case for the view that human rights, rather than being grounded in a foundational moral nature of "humans as such," is a sui generis emergent global practice of states as far as it gives reasons for external intervention when a state fails to protect certain defined interests show more of its own citizens. Beitz reviews some of the consequences of this view (e.g., while there may be a human right to self-determination, there is not one to democracy). The reader may not (even should not) agree with all details of his thesis, but it would be difficult to name a more representative text for this point of view. show less

Not really my kind of language and perspective.
Anyway, the destructive part is useful, mostly in putting together orderly obvious objections and giving them "academic" dignity.
The constructive part... weak (although it might be that it can't be otherwise), not to mention boring :)

Mildly interesting foray into political science by a philosopher, it's a quick and readable piece.