Includes bibliographical references.

Introduction. Human rights : historical and contemporary controversies -- The secular tradition -- Asian and African religions and traditions -- Monotheistic religions -- Liberal visions of human rights -- How to promote a liberal conception of human rights -- Human rights for whom? -- Challenging the liberal vision of rights -- How to promote a socialist perspective of human rights? Free trade, just war, and international organizations -- Human rights for whom -- On the national question -- Redefining rights -- How to protect and promote human rights? -- Human rights for whom? -- Debating the future of human rights -- Additional documents.

"The third edition of The Human Rights Reader presents a dramatically revised organization and updated selections that illustrate the global history of human rights and present debates, and issues of inclusiveness central to those eras. This edition is the most comprehensive and up-to-date collection of essays, speeches, and documents from historical and contemporary sources, all of which are now placed in context with Micheline Ishay's substantial introduction to the reader as a whole and valuable introductions to each part and chapter"-- Provided by publisher.