Johannes Morsink is Professor of Political Philosophy in the Department of Political Science at Drew University. He is the author of Aristotle on the Generation of Animals.

"The definitive work on the drafting of the twentieth century's most important human rights document."-Philip Alston, European University Institute"Well-written and abundantly documented, Morsink's book makes a uniquely important contribution to our understanding of this key document. Morsink carefully summarizes the arguments and counter arguments that were set forth, often heatedly and vigorously, by the various protagonists who participated in the discussions that led to the Universal Declaration in its present form."-Alan Gewirth, University of Chicago"Revealing and useful."-Michael Ignatieff, New York Review of Books"Definitive. Essential reading for everyone interested in human rights."-David P. Forsythe, Choice"Morsink merges history and philosophy in a way that simultaneously roots the Universal Declaration in a particular time and place and reveals its enduring contemporary significance and value."-Jack Donnelly, Human Rights Quarterly"No other books takes the reader behind the scenes into the drafting details. . . . [Morsink's] seminal account merits reading by all invested in the Declaration-activist, academic, official, or victim."-Jerome E. Shestack, American Journal of International Law"A splendid volume . . . fused with political and philosophical insight into the fundamental concepts underlying the Declaration."-American Journal of International Law

• Introduction: The Declaration at Fifty The Drafting Process Explained The United Nations Charter and the Declaration The Seven Drafting Stages Original Intentions and the Cold War The Eight Abstentions Authors, Title, and Addressees World War II as Catalyst Personal Security and the Camps Nazification and Legal Human Rights The Problem with the Nuremberg Trials Democracy, Free Speech, and Hate Speech Special International Human Rights and the Role of the United Nations Social, Economic, and Cultural Examples Colonies, Minorities, and Women's Rights The Communist Push for Nondiscrimination The Problem of the Colonies Race, Color, National Origin, and Language Political Opinion, Property, and Birth The Women's Lobby and Women's Rights Privacy and Different Kinds of Property The Latin American Connection Inviolability and Privacy Rights Should Personal Property Be Singled Out? "Alone as Well as in Association with Others'' A Minimum Within a Larger Framework The Socialist Shape of Work-Related Rights Freedom and the Right to Work The Right to Protection Against Unemployment The Campaign for Trade Union Rights Union Shops, Strikes, and Levels of Implementation Conditions: "Human Labour Is Not a Merchandise'' Social Security, Education, and Culture Food, Clothing, Housing, and Medical Care Troubles with the Phrase "Social Security'' The Rights to Full Development, Education, and Culture The Distinction Between "Old'' and "New'' Human Rights The Organic Unity of the Document Duties and Communities The Duties and Communities of Article 29 Protecting the Family, Motherhood,and Childhood The Rights of Religious and Educational Communities The Omission of a Special Minority Rights Article Article 1, the Preamble, and the Enlightenment A Bargain About God and Nature "Inherent,'' "Inalienable,'' and "Born'' Reason and "the Conscience of Mankind'' The Rights to Petition and Rebellion Human Rights as Means and Ends The Declaration and Human Rights Education Appendix: The Universal Declaration of Human Rights with a Guide to Discussions of Specific Topics and Articles Notes Acknowledgments