This textbook develops a sociological approach to human rights that considers both commonalities and differences in contexts, actors and claims for human rights around the world. Drawing on case studies of organisations and institutions, it illustrates how human rights are being used to address structures of violence, inequality and insecurity.

1. The social construction of human rights; 2. (A) human rights movement(s) and other organisations; 3. States of human rights; 4. The United Nations: not a world state; 5. Humanising capitalism; 6. Women's rights are human rights; 7. Do migrants have rights?; 8. What works? Paradoxes in the human rights field.

'The idea of human rights is at once widely accepted, unevenly implemented, and recurrently challenged. It is thus crucial to study how human rights work (and sometimes fail to work despite apparent agreement), who brings claims and how they are met. Kate Nash's The Political Sociology of Human Rights does this with insight and clarity and it deserves wide attention.' Craig Calhoun, Director, London School of Economics and Political Science'The Political Sociology of Human Rights is a very thorough treatment of the multiple dimensions of human rights and of the various actors involved in different parts of the world. It contests common assumptions and uses concrete examples to combine theoretical clarity with political concern. This book should be read by anybody committed to the building of a better world.' Evelina Dagnino, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Brazil'The study of human rights is inevitably confronted by conundrums: who can enforce them? Who can pay for them? Are they universal? Kate Nash boldly addresses these problems with a sure command of the literature and brings a fresh sociological perspective to these legal and political issues. The Political Sociology of Human Rights is a textbook that will enlighten students but equally guide the research of established scholars.' Bryan S. Turner, Graduate Center, City University of New York"The idea of human rights is at once widely accepted, unevenly implemented, and recurrently challenged. It is thus crucial to study how human rights work (and sometimes fail to work despite apparent agreement), who brings claims and how they are met. Kate Nash's The Political Sociology of Human Rights does this with insight and clarity and it deserves wide attention." Craig Calhoun, Director, London School of Economics and Political Science"The Political Sociology of Human Rights is a very thorough treatment of the multiple dimensions of human rights and of the various actors involved in different parts of the world. It contests common assumptions and uses concrete examples to combine theoretical clarity with political concern. This book should be read by anybody committed to the building of a better world." Evelina Dagnino, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Brazil"The study of human rights is inevitably confronted by conundrums: who can enforce them? Who can pay for them? Are they universal? Kate Nash boldly addresses these problems with a sure command of the literature and brings a fresh sociological perspective to these legal and political issues. The Political Sociology of Human Rights is a textbook that will enlighten students but equally guide the research of established scholars." Bryan S. Turner, Graduate Center, City University of New York