The global new deal : economic and social human rights in world politics /

This second edition is a rare discovery: methodologically sound and relevant social science research laced with a strong dose of compassion. A broad definition of human rights, based on the "transitivity principle"--subsistence needs must be satisfied prior to the realization of other rights--is adopted. Yet, however measured, world poverty remains staggering despite the decade-old UN articulation of Millennium Development Goals (MDG), intended to substantially reduce poverty by 2015 as a first major step toward the fulfillment of universally declared fundamental rights. Progress toward the MDG has been sluggish and probably, from this reviewer's perspective, impeded by the global recession. Nevertheless, institutional mechanisms, such as committees to monitor rights, remain to strengthen rights for disadvantaged groups, those of gender and race included. Committees can be reinforced while certain policies, like military spending, can be redirected to advance rights. Felice (Eckerd College) offers a systematic analysis of pertinent data informed by human rights theory that, in turn, yields positive recommendations at the end of each chapter and, taken collectively, "a new global deal" to effectively promote economic and social human rights. Research tied to relevance and compassion at its academic best. Summing Up: Highly recommended. Lower-division undergraduates and above. A. F. Johnson Bishop's University