Human Rights and Democracy

Todd Landman is Professor of Government and Executive Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences at the University of Essex. He was Director (2010-2013) of the Institute for Democracy and Conflict Resolution, Deputy Director (1999-2003) and Co-Director (2003-2005) of the Human Rights Centre and Director (2007-2010) of the Centre for Democratic Governance. He is author of Protecting Human Rights (Georgetown 2005), Studying Human Rights (Routledge 2006), and Issues and Methods in Comparative Politics (Routledge 2000, 2003, 2008); co-author of Measuring Human Rights (Routledge 2009), Assessing the Quality of Democracy (International IDEA 2008); Governing Latin America (2003), and Citizenship Rights and Social Movements (Oxford 1997, 2000); editor of Human Rights Volumes I-IV (Sage 2009), and co-editor of the Sage Handbook of Comparative Politics (Sage 2009) and Real Social Science: Applied Phronesis (Cambridge 2012). He has carried out numerous projects on the analysis and synthesis of data and complex governmental information, preparation of reports, and the development of assessment and measurement frameworks for significant inter-governmental organisations, governments, and non-governmental organisations.

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.

• IntroductionAbundance and FreedomDemocracy and Human RightsWaves and SetbacksEvidence and ExplanationsAgents and AdvocatesTruth and JusticeThreats and PitfallsBenefits and OutcomesHopes and Challenges