Human Rights: Concepts and Theoretical Perspectives

Human rights are universal, inalienable, and fundamental rights inherent to all human beings, based on the concepts of equality, dignity, and freedom. Key theoretical perspectives include natural rights theory, which posits rights are inborn and exist prior to government; utilitarianism, which justifies rights based on their role in maximizing overall happiness; and social contract theory, which sees rights as products of social and political agreements. The book seeks to elaborate the conceptual, philosophical, theoretical and historical aspects of human rights and duties. It is in five units, namely nature and scope of Human Rights, concepts of rights, liberal and Marxian perspectives of human rights, alternative and third world perspectives and Indian perspectives.