Christian H Kälin – författare

Can universal human rights and different national citizenship regimes ever be compatible? This book argues that they can’t, setting out a legal-philosophical critique of the tension between both. It explores whether the emergence of postnational models of citizenship that aim at decoupling human rights and citizenship succeed in overcoming tensions between the universal (multiculturalism; universal human rights; postnational values) and the particular (citizenship; borders; national values and diverse local narratives). As a result of this exploration, the author argues that it is illegitimate to speak of universal human rights, universal human dignity, or universal social justice. It is only by recognising this reality that a much needed transformation of human rights and citizenship can be undertaken in a meaningful way. This provocative and compelling work will appeal to both human rights and citizenship lawyers, as well as others involved in human rights law at NGOs, governments, international organisations – and indeed anyone with an interest in the subject of how human rights evolved and new concepts for the future.

Can universal human rights and different national citizenship regimes ever be compatible? This book argues that they can’t, setting out a legal-philosophical critique of the tension between both. It explores whether the emergence of postnational models of citizenship that aim at decoupling human rights and citizenship succeed in overcoming tensions between the universal (multiculturalism; universal human rights; postnational values) and the particular (citizenship; borders; national values and diverse local narratives). As a result of this exploration, the author argues that it is illegitimate to speak of universal human rights, universal human dignity, or universal social justice. It is only by recognising this reality that a much needed transformation of human rights and citizenship can be undertaken in a meaningful way. This provocative and compelling work will appeal to both human rights and citizenship lawyers, as well as others involved in human rights law at NGOs, governments, international organisations – and indeed anyone with an interest in the subject of how human rights evolved and new concepts for the future.

This book proposes a new solution to the problem of the migration crisis engulfing the world by creating safe harbours, or Free Global Cities.In the face of the largest displacement crisis on record even the most optimistic view of the future suggests that in the years ahead, more and more people will migrate in order to survive. The world requires places where refugees and other migrants forced to leave their homes have the opportunity to work, study, create, start businesses, and rebuild new lives for themselves and their families.Free Global Cities can deal with this growing global crisis in a completely new way. They are autonomous, self-governed subnational entities that provide a safe environment and rule of law that will create wealth and prosperity for its residents as well as for the nations hosting them. Such a model would contribute significantly to handle the largest migration crisis in history, which the world will be experiencing in the coming decades.