Introduction to Fundamental Rights in Europe

Alessandra Facchi, Full Professor of Philosophy of Law, Department of Social and Political Sciences, University of Milan, Italy, Silvia Falcetta, Research Associate, Department of Sociology, University of York, UK, and Nicola Riva, Associate Professor of Philosophy of Law, Department of Social and Political Sciences, University of Milan, Italy

‘Overall, the book constitutes a very welcome addition to existing textbooks on the topic. Its main added value lies in the choice of a multidisciplinary approach. Indeed, existing textbooks on European fundamental rights mostly adopt a legal perspective and limit their analysis to the process that led to the creation of the European Convention on Human Rights and to the increasing role played by the European Union since the entry into force of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union. It is rare, instead, to find a piece of literature that goes back in time to the initial ideas and social movements which allowed the creation of the concept of fundamental rights and of the theories that helped fundamental rights to be integrated into political structures. An Introduction to Fundamental Rights in Europe engages in such endeavour, making it a very interesting read not only for law students but also for students of other disciplines.’

• Contents: Preface PART I HISTORY 1. Origins: from the sixteenth to the eighteenth century 2. From man’s natural rights to citizens’ fundamental rights 3. Fundamental human rights and their multilevel protection PART II THEORY 4. The idea of fundamental rights 5. The reality of fundamental rights 6. The justification of fundamental rights PART III CASES 7. Sex, gender, sexual orientation 8. Employment, social protection, the environment 9. Religion, ‘race’ and ethnicity, culture Index