Nordic Histories of Human Rights
Johan Strang editor Hanne Hagtvedt Vik editor Linde Lindkvist editor Steven LB Jensen editor
Format:Hardback
Publisher:Taylor & Francis Ltd
Published:8th Jul '20
Currently unavailable, and unfortunately no date known when it will be back
This book explores the history of Nordic human rights politics and practices from the 1930s to present day. The authors use previously unexplored archival materials to bring to light how a broad range of Nordic actors have engaged with international human rights globally and at a European level and how these norms have been taken up and interpreted in the region.
Do the Nordic countries warrant the label ‘global good Samaritans’ in human rights promotion? Is the Nordic welfare state a close to perfect realisation of human rights norms? Or do Nordic international and domestic human rights policies constitute a peculiar ‘Nordic human rights paradox’ where norms are supported internationally while not being implemented at home? Are the ideals of the national welfare state and universal human rights compatible? In this book, the authors take issue with previous scholarship and argue for the need for careful historical investigations into how a broad range of Nordic actors have contributed to creating international human rights. This history is much more varied than what was previously assumed. The lack of prior interest in the region means there are several promising avenues for historical investigations of both the Nordic countries in human rights history and the role of human rights in the history of the region.
The chapters in this book were originally published as a special issue of the journal, Nordic Journal of Human Rights.
"This innovative volume of high-quality essays makes an important contribution to Nordic history, as well as providing a model for the writing of the history of human rights as a complex phenomenon defined by the national context."
Martin Conway, Professor of Modern European History, University of Oxford
"The essays in this volume represent exactly what human rights as an interdisciplinary research field needs: thorough and initiated empirical studies of particular political contexts and developments. Only with this kind of research can the simplification of the grand narratives be challenged and human rights theory be provided with a solid ground for engagement with real politics."
Lena Halldenius, Professor of Human Rights Studies, Lund University, Sweden.
"This innovative volume of high-quality essays makes an important contribution to Nordic history, as well as providing a model for the writing of the history of human rights as a complex phenomenon defined by the national context."
Martin Conway, Professor of Modern European History, University of Oxford
"The essays in this volume represent exactly what human rights as an interdisciplinary research field needs: thorough and initiated empirical studies of particular political contexts and developments. Only with this kind of research can the simplification of the grand narratives be challenged and human rights theory be provided with a solid ground for engagement with real politics."
Lena Halldenius, Professor of Human Rights Studies, Lund University, Sweden.
ISBN: 9780367517625
Dimensions: unknown
Weight: 403g
138 pages