Human Rights and Democracy: The Precarious Triumph of Ideals - Tapa dura

In a fascinating journey through the world over the last 60 years, which builds on his broad experience, knowledge and insight, Todd Landman copes with the key questions on democracy and human rights today. He shows and explain how those ideals have been translated into reality, but also considers how their `triumph' is `precarious,' as they are continually being threatened, both internally and externally. Consequently, we should add, the need to monitor and defend them is more urgent than ever. * Leonardo Morlino, Past President, International Political Science Association * Landman is successful in his aim to evaluate theoretical assumptions through empirical evidence in order to make readers think more critically about the relationship between democracy and human rights. Landman's book is as much about the challenges confronting democracy and human rights as it is about their triumph and importance. -- Tezcan Gumus, Australian Catholic University, AU * Democratic Theory * An engaging and important discussion by a scholar who has led the way in studying the empirical connection between human rights and democracy, the two values that most inspire people around the world. It helps us think critically about the challenges we face in today's world. But Human Rights and Democracy does more. It reminds us of the things that matter and how progress has been attained. And it invites us to defeat cynicism and seek out ways to link knowledge to action. * Gerardo Munck, University of Southern California, USA *

The 20th century has been described as the bloodiest in human history, but it was also the century in which people around the world embraced ideas of democracy and human rights as never before, constructing social, political and legal institutions seeking to contain human behaviour. Todd Landman offers an optimistic, yet cautionary tale of these developments, drawing on the literature, from politics, international relations and international law. He celebrates the global turn from tyranny and violence towards democracy and rights but also warns of the precariousness of these achievements in the face of democratic setbacks and the undermining of rights commitments by many countries during the so-called 'War on Terror'.