One of the Big Issues, 20 May 2007
Humanitarian Intervention has been a touchy topic in the world politics arena ever since the term was coined. N. Wheeler explores this topic in a wonderfully organised and objective manner. Looking into intervention in the 1970s, and the response of the world and mainly the United Nations Wheeler puts forward and interesting and easy to understand view of both the physical and theoretical world of Humanitarian intervention.
Using compelling case studies presented in an immaculate way Wheeler points out the pros and cons of humanitarian intervention, the total lack of understanding or desire to help by certain strong nations in the world, and the legal difficulties in international law and international relations regarding the act of intervening in the business of sovereign states.
The book is ideal for first year students of international relations, helping them to understand the theoretical and legal aspect of a very big issue within the field. However it is also helpful to more experienced readers as a point of references and a well structured point of view.
I would recommend this book very highly to anyone who is interested in the subject matter.


A challenge to the norm, 14 May 2004
The subject of humanitarian intervention, and whether it has become a legitimate practice amongst the society of states, has been one of the defining debates in international relations in the 1990's. Dr Wheeler's book on this incredibly complex moral question is of the very highest calibre in terms of its scope and definition. One of its key strengths as a text lies in its suitability for both those who are new to the subject matter, especially in its discussion of the case studies, and for the more experienced reader in terms of the theoretical basis of Wheeler's position on how one can judge the success or otherwise of humanitarian intervention.
The book's overall objective is to trace the development of humanitarian intervention over the last thirty years. The case studies include interventions in the 1970's by India, Vietnam and Tanzania, all of which are extremely well presented and well structured. Whilst it is difficult to argue that these cases constituted what we would now term "humanitarian intervention", their inclusion in this book is very important as they mirror many of the concerns felt in the 1990's about the dilemma of pursuing humanitarian justice, whilst preserving the balance of global order, a key debate in not only humanitarian intervention, but in international relations as a whole.

The 1990's case studies are undoubtedly the core strength of the text, and are extremely well presented. The cases featured include the Iraq "no-Fly Zones", the U.S intervention in Somalia, the Rwandan Genocide, and the related cases of Bosnia and Kosovo. Presented in chronological order, they chart the history of action and inaction of the international community to incidents of humanitarian emergency over the course of the 1990's. As with the 70's cases, all the key facts and events are covered here, and are easily accessible to both the expert and the novice.

Perhaps the most intriguing and compelling aspect of the book is Wheeler's theoretical position on the subject of what constitutes a legitimate and successful humanitarian intervention. Anyone who has read the theories of humanitarian intervention expressed by other experts in the field will find this book makes a convincing and challenging contribution to existing debate. Wheeler somewhat controversially challenges many other thinkers on this subject by focussing on the outcome of an intervention as opposed to the motives of the interveners. Whilst Wheeler makes a good case for this approach in terms of his use of the case studies, his overall normative theoretical position taken from English School thinkers such as R. J Vincent and Headley Bull, demands by its very nature a central focus on the motives of the actor, and leaves a paradox at the heart of his theory which he never really manages to overcome. However, it is fair to say that this paradox is one that makes the book even more compelling, as one gets the feeling that if Wheeler could only have pulled off this trick, he would have created a theory of the most robust kind.

Overall, Saving Strangers is a must -read book on a subject close to the consciences of all engaged in both the study and practice of international affairs, and is a valuable contribution to our understanding of how the international community has dealt with humanitarian disaster, and how it should do so in the future.

One of the Big Issues, 20 May 2007
Humanitarian Intervention has been a touchy topic in the world politics arena ever since the term was coined. N. Wheeler explores this topic in a wonderfully organised and objective manner. Looking into intervention in the 1970s, and the response of the world and mainly the United Nations Wheeler puts forward and interesting and easy to understand view of both the physical and theoretical world of Humanitarian intervention.
Using compelling case studies presented in an immaculate way Wheeler points out the pros and cons of humanitarian intervention, the total lack of understanding or desire to help by certain strong nations in the world, and the legal difficulties in international law and international relations regarding the act of intervening in the business of sovereign states.
The book is ideal for first year students of international relations, helping them to understand the theoretical and legal aspect of a very big issue within the field. However it is also helpful to more experienced readers as a point of references and a well structured point of view.
I would recommend this book very highly to anyone who is interested in the subject matter.


A challenge to the norm, 14 May 2004
The subject of humanitarian intervention, and whether it has become a legitimate practice amongst the society of states, has been one of the defining debates in international relations in the 1990's. Dr Wheeler's book on this incredibly complex moral question is of the very highest calibre in terms of its scope and definition. One of its key strengths as a text lies in its suitability for both those who are new to the subject matter, especially in its discussion of the case studies, and for the more experienced reader in terms of the theoretical basis of Wheeler's position on how one can judge the success or otherwise of humanitarian intervention.
The book's overall objective is to trace the development of humanitarian intervention over the last thirty years. The case studies include interventions in the 1970's by India, Vietnam and Tanzania, all of which are extremely well presented and well structured. Whilst it is difficult to argue that these cases constituted what we would now term "humanitarian intervention", their inclusion in this book is very important as they mirror many of the concerns felt in the 1990's about the dilemma of pursuing humanitarian justice, whilst preserving the balance of global order, a key debate in not only humanitarian intervention, but in international relations as a whole.

The 1990's case studies are undoubtedly the core strength of the text, and are extremely well presented. The cases featured include the Iraq "no-Fly Zones", the U.S intervention in Somalia, the Rwandan Genocide, and the related cases of Bosnia and Kosovo. Presented in chronological order, they chart the history of action and inaction of the international community to incidents of humanitarian emergency over the course of the 1990's. As with the 70's cases, all the key facts and events are covered here, and are easily accessible to both the expert and the novice.

Perhaps the most intriguing and compelling aspect of the book is Wheeler's theoretical position on the subject of what constitutes a legitimate and successful humanitarian intervention. Anyone who has read the theories of humanitarian intervention expressed by other experts in the field will find this book makes a convincing and challenging contribution to existing debate. Wheeler somewhat controversially challenges many other thinkers on this subject by focussing on the outcome of an intervention as opposed to the motives of the interveners. Whilst Wheeler makes a good case for this approach in terms of his use of the case studies, his overall normative theoretical position taken from English School thinkers such as R. J Vincent and Headley Bull, demands by its very nature a central focus on the motives of the actor, and leaves a paradox at the heart of his theory which he never really manages to overcome. However, it is fair to say that this paradox is one that makes the book even more compelling, as one gets the feeling that if Wheeler could only have pulled off this trick, he would have created a theory of the most robust kind.

Overall, Saving Strangers is a must -read book on a subject close to the consciences of all engaged in both the study and practice of international affairs, and is a valuable contribution to our understanding of how the international community has dealt with humanitarian disaster, and how it should do so in the future.

usefull for any students of AS level, 23 Feb 2002
This book was very usefull as I am studying a degree at the moment and part of the work was to study Children's rights. This book is an up to date version and the book is usefull for quotes for essay writing. This book would be usefull for any students of AS level or studying sociology. This book is very easy to read and self explanitory. The book was a good read and well presentended with upto date issues on Education, schooling, children's act 1989, and the UN Convention of Children's Rights, this book also covered disablities and most aspects of children's rights very good book.

One of the Big Issues, 20 May 2007
Humanitarian Intervention has been a touchy topic in the world politics arena ever since the term was coined. N. Wheeler explores this topic in a wonderfully organised and objective manner. Looking into intervention in the 1970s, and the response of the world and mainly the United Nations Wheeler puts forward and interesting and easy to understand view of both the physical and theoretical world of Humanitarian intervention.
Using compelling case studies presented in an immaculate way Wheeler points out the pros and cons of humanitarian intervention, the total lack of understanding or desire to help by certain strong nations in the world, and the legal difficulties in international law and international relations regarding the act of intervening in the business of sovereign states.
The book is ideal for first year students of international relations, helping them to understand the theoretical and legal aspect of a very big issue within the field. However it is also helpful to more experienced readers as a point of references and a well structured point of view.
I would recommend this book very highly to anyone who is interested in the subject matter.


A challenge to the norm, 14 May 2004
The subject of humanitarian intervention, and whether it has become a legitimate practice amongst the society of states, has been one of the defining debates in international relations in the 1990's. Dr Wheeler's book on this incredibly complex moral question is of the very highest calibre in terms of its scope and definition. One of its key strengths as a text lies in its suitability for both those who are new to the subject matter, especially in its discussion of the case studies, and for the more experienced reader in terms of the theoretical basis of Wheeler's position on how one can judge the success or otherwise of humanitarian intervention.
The book's overall objective is to trace the development of humanitarian intervention over the last thirty years. The case studies include interventions in the 1970's by India, Vietnam and Tanzania, all of which are extremely well presented and well structured. Whilst it is difficult to argue that these cases constituted what we would now term "humanitarian intervention", their inclusion in this book is very important as they mirror many of the concerns felt in the 1990's about the dilemma of pursuing humanitarian justice, whilst preserving the balance of global order, a key debate in not only humanitarian intervention, but in international relations as a whole.

The 1990's case studies are undoubtedly the core strength of the text, and are extremely well presented. The cases featured include the Iraq "no-Fly Zones", the U.S intervention in Somalia, the Rwandan Genocide, and the related cases of Bosnia and Kosovo. Presented in chronological order, they chart the history of action and inaction of the international community to incidents of humanitarian emergency over the course of the 1990's. As with the 70's cases, all the key facts and events are covered here, and are easily accessible to both the expert and the novice.

Perhaps the most intriguing and compelling aspect of the book is Wheeler's theoretical position on the subject of what constitutes a legitimate and successful humanitarian intervention. Anyone who has read the theories of humanitarian intervention expressed by other experts in the field will find this book makes a convincing and challenging contribution to existing debate. Wheeler somewhat controversially challenges many other thinkers on this subject by focussing on the outcome of an intervention as opposed to the motives of the interveners. Whilst Wheeler makes a good case for this approach in terms of his use of the case studies, his overall normative theoretical position taken from English School thinkers such as R. J Vincent and Headley Bull, demands by its very nature a central focus on the motives of the actor, and leaves a paradox at the heart of his theory which he never really manages to overcome. However, it is fair to say that this paradox is one that makes the book even more compelling, as one gets the feeling that if Wheeler could only have pulled off this trick, he would have created a theory of the most robust kind.

Overall, Saving Strangers is a must -read book on a subject close to the consciences of all engaged in both the study and practice of international affairs, and is a valuable contribution to our understanding of how the international community has dealt with humanitarian disaster, and how it should do so in the future.

usefull for any students of AS level, 23 Feb 2002
This book was very usefull as I am studying a degree at the moment and part of the work was to study Children's rights. This book is an up to date version and the book is usefull for quotes for essay writing. This book would be usefull for any students of AS level or studying sociology. This book is very easy to read and self explanitory. The book was a good read and well presentended with upto date issues on Education, schooling, children's act 1989, and the UN Convention of Children's Rights, this book also covered disablities and most aspects of children's rights very good book.

A Glaring Omission..., 11 May 2004
This volume is comprehensive in scope and interesting to read - but astonishingly, it fails to give even basic coverage to the notion of 'contemporary slavery'!

Contemporary (or modern/new) slavery is a huge problem not only in the developing world but also, (to a lesser but no less important extent) in the West. Organisations such as Anti-Slavery International, at the forefront of the struggle to eliminate new slavery, have found that bringing together the most prevalent contemporary forms of slavery - such as trafficking, bonded labour, forced prostitution, child labour and forced marriage - under a heading which makes the abhorrent and unacceptable nature of these practices clear, is the most effective way to raise public awareness of the plight of millions of modern-day slaves throughout the world.

Thus, usage of the term 'contemporary slavery' is fast becoming common practice among organisations and institutions whose principal aim is the complete abolition of slavery in modern times - I would have expected a volume such as this, with its finger on the pulse of the international human rights scene, to be aware of this development and to reflect it in the content and structure of International Human Rights in Context, 2nd ed.

The best compilation available for students on human rights, 06 Sep 2000
This is the second edition of a volume that is the best single collection of ideas and documents on international human rights. Admittedly, the available teaching texts on human rights leave a good deal to be desired at this point.

Still, Steiner and Alston stands out. The strengths of the book are its comprehensiveness, its large amount of materials on cultural relativism, its legal detail and its collection of documents. It is probably most appropriate for postgraudate law students, but I am using it as the main book for an advanced college class in the United States. The co-editors have provided good updates that take account of recent problems and advances in human rights law. I wish there was more attention still paid to specific geographical examples of human rights violations, especially as the current examples tend to use mostly advanced legal materials. Also, the book could use more extended more basic arguments about the meaning and nature of human rights, as well a wider variety of more elementary contemporary Western and non-Western critiques.

Yet, all in all, this is a very fine collection that is suitable to anyone wishing a wide array of materials on the subject. It will be most effective in the context of a university class, because it can take some work to sort out the large amount of materials by topic or level of reader. Because of this, the book will clearly receive most use by university students and teachers of this subject.

One of the Big Issues, 20 May 2007
Humanitarian Intervention has been a touchy topic in the world politics arena ever since the term was coined. N. Wheeler explores this topic in a wonderfully organised and objective manner. Looking into intervention in the 1970s, and the response of the world and mainly the United Nations Wheeler puts forward and interesting and easy to understand view of both the physical and theoretical world of Humanitarian intervention.
Using compelling case studies presented in an immaculate way Wheeler points out the pros and cons of humanitarian intervention, the total lack of understanding or desire to help by certain strong nations in the world, and the legal difficulties in international law and international relations regarding the act of intervening in the business of sovereign states.
The book is ideal for first year students of international relations, helping them to understand the theoretical and legal aspect of a very big issue within the field. However it is also helpful to more experienced readers as a point of references and a well structured point of view.
I would recommend this book very highly to anyone who is interested in the subject matter.


A challenge to the norm, 14 May 2004
The subject of humanitarian intervention, and whether it has become a legitimate practice amongst the society of states, has been one of the defining debates in international relations in the 1990's. Dr Wheeler's book on this incredibly complex moral question is of the very highest calibre in terms of its scope and definition. One of its key strengths as a text lies in its suitability for both those who are new to the subject matter, especially in its discussion of the case studies, and for the more experienced reader in terms of the theoretical basis of Wheeler's position on how one can judge the success or otherwise of humanitarian intervention.
The book's overall objective is to trace the development of humanitarian intervention over the last thirty years. The case studies include interventions in the 1970's by India, Vietnam and Tanzania, all of which are extremely well presented and well structured. Whilst it is difficult to argue that these cases constituted what we would now term "humanitarian intervention", their inclusion in this book is very important as they mirror many of the concerns felt in the 1990's about the dilemma of pursuing humanitarian justice, whilst preserving the balance of global order, a key debate in not only humanitarian intervention, but in international relations as a whole.

The 1990's case studies are undoubtedly the core strength of the text, and are extremely well presented. The cases featured include the Iraq "no-Fly Zones", the U.S intervention in Somalia, the Rwandan Genocide, and the related cases of Bosnia and Kosovo. Presented in chronological order, they chart the history of action and inaction of the international community to incidents of humanitarian emergency over the course of the 1990's. As with the 70's cases, all the key facts and events are covered here, and are easily accessible to both the expert and the novice.

Perhaps the most intriguing and compelling aspect of the book is Wheeler's theoretical position on the subject of what constitutes a legitimate and successful humanitarian intervention. Anyone who has read the theories of humanitarian intervention expressed by other experts in the field will find this book makes a convincing and challenging contribution to existing debate. Wheeler somewhat controversially challenges many other thinkers on this subject by focussing on the outcome of an intervention as opposed to the motives of the interveners. Whilst Wheeler makes a good case for this approach in terms of his use of the case studies, his overall normative theoretical position taken from English School thinkers such as R. J Vincent and Headley Bull, demands by its very nature a central focus on the motives of the actor, and leaves a paradox at the heart of his theory which he never really manages to overcome. However, it is fair to say that this paradox is one that makes the book even more compelling, as one gets the feeling that if Wheeler could only have pulled off this trick, he would have created a theory of the most robust kind.

Overall, Saving Strangers is a must -read book on a subject close to the consciences of all engaged in both the study and practice of international affairs, and is a valuable contribution to our understanding of how the international community has dealt with humanitarian disaster, and how it should do so in the future.

usefull for any students of AS level, 23 Feb 2002
This book was very usefull as I am studying a degree at the moment and part of the work was to study Children's rights. This book is an up to date version and the book is usefull for quotes for essay writing. This book would be usefull for any students of AS level or studying sociology. This book is very easy to read and self explanitory. The book was a good read and well presentended with upto date issues on Education, schooling, children's act 1989, and the UN Convention of Children's Rights, this book also covered disablities and most aspects of children's rights very good book.

A Glaring Omission..., 11 May 2004
This volume is comprehensive in scope and interesting to read - but astonishingly, it fails to give even basic coverage to the notion of 'contemporary slavery'!

Contemporary (or modern/new) slavery is a huge problem not only in the developing world but also, (to a lesser but no less important extent) in the West. Organisations such as Anti-Slavery International, at the forefront of the struggle to eliminate new slavery, have found that bringing together the most prevalent contemporary forms of slavery - such as trafficking, bonded labour, forced prostitution, child labour and forced marriage - under a heading which makes the abhorrent and unacceptable nature of these practices clear, is the most effective way to raise public awareness of the plight of millions of modern-day slaves throughout the world.

Thus, usage of the term 'contemporary slavery' is fast becoming common practice among organisations and institutions whose principal aim is the complete abolition of slavery in modern times - I would have expected a volume such as this, with its finger on the pulse of the international human rights scene, to be aware of this development and to reflect it in the content and structure of International Human Rights in Context, 2nd ed.

The best compilation available for students on human rights, 06 Sep 2000
This is the second edition of a volume that is the best single collection of ideas and documents on international human rights. Admittedly, the available teaching texts on human rights leave a good deal to be desired at this point.

Still, Steiner and Alston stands out. The strengths of the book are its comprehensiveness, its large amount of materials on cultural relativism, its legal detail and its collection of documents. It is probably most appropriate for postgraudate law students, but I am using it as the main book for an advanced college class in the United States. The co-editors have provided good updates that take account of recent problems and advances in human rights law. I wish there was more attention still paid to specific geographical examples of human rights violations, especially as the current examples tend to use mostly advanced legal materials. Also, the book could use more extended more basic arguments about the meaning and nature of human rights, as well a wider variety of more elementary contemporary Western and non-Western critiques.

Yet, all in all, this is a very fine collection that is suitable to anyone wishing a wide array of materials on the subject. It will be most effective in the context of a university class, because it can take some work to sort out the large amount of materials by topic or level of reader. Because of this, the book will clearly receive most use by university students and teachers of this subject.

A clearly defined explanation of an important statute, 24 Jan 2002
Faced with having to write an essay on the Human Rights Act I was referred to this text by lecturers as an informative text on the Act.

On reading the text it gave a concise explanations of the effect the act.

Helen Mountfield and John Wadham have successfully managed to explain a complex topic in a way that a person not trained in law could grasp while informing the legal profession of the Act's relevance at the same time.

It is not perhaps the most exciting read but incredibly informative and extremely relevant to future court cases.

One of the Big Issues, 20 May 2007
Humanitarian Intervention has been a touchy topic in the world politics arena ever since the term was coined. N. Wheeler explores this topic in a wonderfully organised and objective manner. Looking into intervention in the 1970s, and the response of the world and mainly the United Nations Wheeler puts forward and interesting and easy to understand view of both the physical and theoretical world of Humanitarian intervention.
Using compelling case studies presented in an immaculate way Wheeler points out the pros and cons of humanitarian intervention, the total lack of understanding or desire to help by certain strong nations in the world, and the legal difficulties in international law and international relations regarding the act of intervening in the business of sovereign states.
The book is ideal for first year students of international relations, helping them to understand the theoretical and legal aspect of a very big issue within the field. However it is also helpful to more experienced readers as a point of references and a well structured point of view.
I would recommend this book very highly to anyone who is interested in the subject matter.


A challenge to the norm, 14 May 2004
The subject of humanitarian intervention, and whether it has become a legitimate practice amongst the society of states, has been one of the defining debates in international relations in the 1990's. Dr Wheeler's book on this incredibly complex moral question is of the very highest calibre in terms of its scope and definition. One of its key strengths as a text lies in its suitability for both those who are new to the subject matter, especially in its discussion of the case studies, and for the more experienced reader in terms of the theoretical basis of Wheeler's position on how one can judge the success or otherwise of humanitarian intervention.
The book's overall objective is to trace the development of humanitarian intervention over the last thirty years. The case studies include interventions in the 1970's by India, Vietnam and Tanzania, all of which are extremely well presented and well structured. Whilst it is difficult to argue that these cases constituted what we would now term "humanitarian intervention", their inclusion in this book is very important as they mirror many of the concerns felt in the 1990's about the dilemma of pursuing humanitarian justice, whilst preserving the balance of global order, a key debate in not only humanitarian intervention, but in international relations as a whole.

The 1990's case studies are undoubtedly the core strength of the text, and are extremely well presented. The cases featured include the Iraq "no-Fly Zones", the U.S intervention in Somalia, the Rwandan Genocide, and the related cases of Bosnia and Kosovo. Presented in chronological order, they chart the history of action and inaction of the international community to incidents of humanitarian emergency over the course of the 1990's. As with the 70's cases, all the key facts and events are covered here, and are easily accessible to both the expert and the novice.

Perhaps the most intriguing and compelling aspect of the book is Wheeler's theoretical position on the subject of what constitutes a legitimate and successful humanitarian intervention. Anyone who has read the theories of humanitarian intervention expressed by other experts in the field will find this book makes a convincing and challenging contribution to existing debate. Wheeler somewhat controversially challenges many other thinkers on this subject by focussing on the outcome of an intervention as opposed to the motives of the interveners. Whilst Wheeler makes a good case for this approach in terms of his use of the case studies, his overall normative theoretical position taken from English School thinkers such as R. J Vincent and Headley Bull, demands by its very nature a central focus on the motives of the actor, and leaves a paradox at the heart of his theory which he never really manages to overcome. However, it is fair to say that this paradox is one that makes the book even more compelling, as one gets the feeling that if Wheeler could only have pulled off this trick, he would have created a theory of the most robust kind.

Overall, Saving Strangers is a must -read book on a subject close to the consciences of all engaged in both the study and practice of international affairs, and is a valuable contribution to our understanding of how the international community has dealt with humanitarian disaster, and how it should do so in the future.

usefull for any students of AS level, 23 Feb 2002
This book was very usefull as I am studying a degree at the moment and part of the work was to study Children's rights. This book is an up to date version and the book is usefull for quotes for essay writing. This book would be usefull for any students of AS level or studying sociology. This book is very easy to read and self explanitory. The book was a good read and well presentended with upto date issues on Education, schooling, children's act 1989, and the UN Convention of Children's Rights, this book also covered disablities and most aspects of children's rights very good book.

A Glaring Omission..., 11 May 2004
This volume is comprehensive in scope and interesting to read - but astonishingly, it fails to give even basic coverage to the notion of 'contemporary slavery'!

Contemporary (or modern/new) slavery is a huge problem not only in the developing world but also, (to a lesser but no less important extent) in the West. Organisations such as Anti-Slavery International, at the forefront of the struggle to eliminate new slavery, have found that bringing together the most prevalent contemporary forms of slavery - such as trafficking, bonded labour, forced prostitution, child labour and forced marriage - under a heading which makes the abhorrent and unacceptable nature of these practices clear, is the most effective way to raise public awareness of the plight of millions of modern-day slaves throughout the world.

Thus, usage of the term 'contemporary slavery' is fast becoming common practice among organisations and institutions whose principal aim is the complete abolition of slavery in modern times - I would have expected a volume such as this, with its finger on the pulse of the international human rights scene, to be aware of this development and to reflect it in the content and structure of International Human Rights in Context, 2nd ed.

The best compilation available for students on human rights, 06 Sep 2000
This is the second edition of a volume that is the best single collection of ideas and documents on international human rights. Admittedly, the available teaching texts on human rights leave a good deal to be desired at this point.

Still, Steiner and Alston stands out. The strengths of the book are its comprehensiveness, its large amount of materials on cultural relativism, its legal detail and its collection of documents. It is probably most appropriate for postgraudate law students, but I am using it as the main book for an advanced college class in the United States. The co-editors have provided good updates that take account of recent problems and advances in human rights law. I wish there was more attention still paid to specific geographical examples of human rights violations, especially as the current examples tend to use mostly advanced legal materials. Also, the book could use more extended more basic arguments about the meaning and nature of human rights, as well a wider variety of more elementary contemporary Western and non-Western critiques.

Yet, all in all, this is a very fine collection that is suitable to anyone wishing a wide array of materials on the subject. It will be most effective in the context of a university class, because it can take some work to sort out the large amount of materials by topic or level of reader. Because of this, the book will clearly receive most use by university students and teachers of this subject.

A clearly defined explanation of an important statute, 24 Jan 2002
Faced with having to write an essay on the Human Rights Act I was referred to this text by lecturers as an informative text on the Act.

On reading the text it gave a concise explanations of the effect the act.

Helen Mountfield and John Wadham have successfully managed to explain a complex topic in a way that a person not trained in law could grasp while informing the legal profession of the Act's relevance at the same time.

It is not perhaps the most exciting read but incredibly informative and extremely relevant to future court cases.

Outstanding study of the conflict, 13 Jul 2006

This excellent survey is a new edition of John Quigley's 1990 classic, `Palestine and Israel'. The author, who is Professor of Law at Ohio State University, examines the origins of the Zionist-Arab conflict in Palestine, the League of Nations' decision to promote a Jewish homeland in Palestine, the 1948 war and the establishment of Israel, the status of Arabs in Israel, the 1967 war, Israel's illegal occupation of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, and the way to resolve the Palestine-Israel conflict.

During and after the 1948 war, Israeli forces drove 780,000 Palestinian Arabs out of the most densely populated areas of Palestine: only 60,000 remained. As the commander of the Palmach, the elite unit of the Israeli army, admitted, "We did everything to encourage them to flee."

From 1950 onwards, when Palestinians attempted to cross into Israel to attend to their land, Israel repeatedly attacked its Arab neighbours. The UN Security Council condemned these attacks saying, "reprisals have proved to be productive of greater violence rather than a deterrent to violence." This remains true right up to today's brutal Israeli assaults on Gaza and Lebanon.

Mordecai Bentov, who was a cabinet minister when Israel attacked the Arab states in 1967, wrote that Israel's `entire story' about `the danger of extermination' was "invented of whole cloth and exaggerated after the fact to justify the annexation of new Arab territories."

Quigley attributes the breakdown of negotiations in 2000 to Israel's refusal to negotiate on the basis of principles of justice and law. He contends that the Palestinians have a stronger legal claim to Jerusalem than do the Israelis; that Palestinian refugees should be repatriated to areas including those within the borders of Israel; and that Israel should withdraw from all the territories it occupied in 1967.

He argues that throughout the twentieth century and into the twenty-first, Israel and its allies have overridden the basic tenets of international law, particularly the right of self-determination, to the detriment of the Palestinians. He concludes that the conflict can only be ended by establishing a viable Palestinian state.

One of the Big Issues, 20 May 2007
Humanitarian Intervention has been a touchy topic in the world politics arena ever since the term was coined. N. Wheeler explores this topic in a wonderfully organised and objective manner. Looking into intervention in the 1970s, and the response of the world and mainly the United Nations Wheeler puts forward and interesting and easy to understand view of both the physical and theoretical world of Humanitarian intervention.
Using compelling case studies presented in an immaculate way Wheeler points out the pros and cons of humanitarian intervention, the total lack of understanding or desire to help by certain strong nations in the world, and the legal difficulties in international law and international relations regarding the act of intervening in the business of sovereign states.
The book is ideal for first year students of international relations, helping them to understand the theoretical and legal aspect of a very big issue within the field. However it is also helpful to more experienced readers as a point of references and a well structured point of view.
I would recommend this book very highly to anyone who is interested in the subject matter.


A challenge to the norm, 14 May 2004
The subject of humanitarian intervention, and whether it has become a legitimate practice amongst the society of states, has been one of the defining debates in international relations in the 1990's. Dr Wheeler's book on this incredibly complex moral question is of the very highest calibre in terms of its scope and definition. One of its key strengths as a text lies in its suitability for both those who are new to the subject matter, especially in its discussion of the case studies, and for the more experienced reader in terms of the theoretical basis of Wheeler's position on how one can judge the success or otherwise of humanitarian intervention.
The book's overall objective is to trace the development of humanitarian intervention over the last thirty years. The case studies include interventions in the 1970's by India, Vietnam and Tanzania, all of which are extremely well presented and well structured. Whilst it is difficult to argue that these cases constituted what we would now term "humanitarian intervention", their inclusion in this book is very important as they mirror many of the concerns felt in the 1990's about the dilemma of pursuing humanitarian justice, whilst preserving the balance of global order, a key debate in not only humanitarian intervention, but in international relations as a whole.

The 1990's case studies are undoubtedly the core strength of the text, and are extremely well presented. The cases featured include the Iraq "no-Fly Zones", the U.S intervention in Somalia, the Rwandan Genocide, and the related cases of Bosnia and Kosovo. Presented in chronological order, they chart the history of action and inaction of the international community to incidents of humanitarian emergency over the course of the 1990's. As with the 70's cases, all the key facts and events are covered here, and are easily accessible to both the expert and the novice.

Perhaps the most intriguing and compelling aspect of the book is Wheeler's theoretical position on the subject of what constitutes a legitimate and successful humanitarian intervention. Anyone who has read the theories of humanitarian intervention expressed by other experts in the field will find this book makes a convincing and challenging contribution to existing debate. Wheeler somewhat controversially challenges many other thinkers on this subject by focussing on the outcome of an intervention as opposed to the motives of the interveners. Whilst Wheeler makes a good case for this approach in terms of his use of the case studies, his overall normative theoretical position taken from English School thinkers such as R. J Vincent and Headley Bull, demands by its very nature a central focus on the motives of the actor, and leaves a paradox at the heart of his theory which he never really manages to overcome. However, it is fair to say that this paradox is one that makes the book even more compelling, as one gets the feeling that if Wheeler could only have pulled off this trick, he would have created a theory of the most robust kind.

Overall, Saving Strangers is a must -read book on a subject close to the consciences of all engaged in both the study and practice of international affairs, and is a valuable contribution to our understanding of how the international community has dealt with humanitarian disaster, and how it should do so in the future.

usefull for any students of AS level, 23 Feb 2002
This book was very usefull as I am studying a degree at the moment and part of the work was to study Children's rights. This book is an up to date version and the book is usefull for quotes for essay writing. This book would be usefull for any students of AS level or studying sociology. This book is very easy to read and self explanitory. The book was a good read and well presentended with upto date issues on Education, schooling, children's act 1989, and the UN Convention of Children's Rights, this book also covered disablities and most aspects of children's rights very good book.

A Glaring Omission..., 11 May 2004
This volume is comprehensive in scope and interesting to read - but astonishingly, it fails to give even basic coverage to the notion of 'contemporary slavery'!

Contemporary (or modern/new) slavery is a huge problem not only in the developing world but also, (to a lesser but no less important extent) in the West. Organisations such as Anti-Slavery International, at the forefront of the struggle to eliminate new slavery, have found that bringing together the most prevalent contemporary forms of slavery - such as trafficking, bonded labour, forced prostitution, child labour and forced marriage - under a heading which makes the abhorrent and unacceptable nature of these practices clear, is the most effective way to raise public awareness of the plight of millions of modern-day slaves throughout the world.

Thus, usage of the term 'contemporary slavery' is fast becoming common practice among organisations and institutions whose principal aim is the complete abolition of slavery in modern times - I would have expected a volume such as this, with its finger on the pulse of the international human rights scene, to be aware of this development and to reflect it in the content and structure of International Human Rights in Context, 2nd ed.

The best compilation available for students on human rights, 06 Sep 2000
This is the second edition of a volume that is the best single collection of ideas and documents on international human rights. Admittedly, the available teaching texts on human rights leave a good deal to be desired at this point.

Still, Steiner and Alston stands out. The strengths of the book are its comprehensiveness, its large amount of materials on cultural relativism, its legal detail and its collection of documents. It is probably most appropriate for postgraudate law students, but I am using it as the main book for an advanced college class in the United States. The co-editors have provided good updates that take account of recent problems and advances in human rights law. I wish there was more attention still paid to specific geographical examples of human rights violations, especially as the current examples tend to use mostly advanced legal materials. Also, the book could use more extended more basic arguments about the meaning and nature of human rights, as well a wider variety of more elementary contemporary Western and non-Western critiques.

Yet, all in all, this is a very fine collection that is suitable to anyone wishing a wide array of materials on the subject. It will be most effective in the context of a university class, because it can take some work to sort out the large amount of materials by topic or level of reader. Because of this, the book will clearly receive most use by university students and teachers of this subject.

A clearly defined explanation of an important statute, 24 Jan 2002
Faced with having to write an essay on the Human Rights Act I was referred to this text by lecturers as an informative text on the Act.

On reading the text it gave a concise explanations of the effect the act.

Helen Mountfield and John Wadham have successfully managed to explain a complex topic in a way that a person not trained in law could grasp while informing the legal profession of the Act's relevance at the same time.

It is not perhaps the most exciting read but incredibly informative and extremely relevant to future court cases.

Outstanding study of the conflict, 13 Jul 2006

This excellent survey is a new edition of John Quigley's 1990 classic, `Palestine and Israel'. The author, who is Professor of Law at Ohio State University, examines the origins of the Zionist-Arab conflict in Palestine, the League of Nations' decision to promote a Jewish homeland in Palestine, the 1948 war and the establishment of Israel, the status of Arabs in Israel, the 1967 war, Israel's illegal occupation of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, and the way to resolve the Palestine-Israel conflict.

During and after the 1948 war, Israeli forces drove 780,000 Palestinian Arabs out of the most densely populated areas of Palestine: only 60,000 remained. As the commander of the Palmach, the elite unit of the Israeli army, admitted, "We did everything to encourage them to flee."

From 1950 onwards, when Palestinians attempted to cross into Israel to attend to their land, Israel repeatedly attacked its Arab neighbours. The UN Security Council condemned these attacks saying, "reprisals have proved to be productive of greater violence rather than a deterrent to violence." This remains true right up to today's brutal Israeli assaults on Gaza and Lebanon.

Mordecai Bentov, who was a cabinet minister when Israel attacked the Arab states in 1967, wrote that Israel's `entire story' about `the danger of extermination' was "invented of whole cloth and exaggerated after the fact to justify the annexation of new Arab territories."

Quigley attributes the breakdown of negotiations in 2000 to Israel's refusal to negotiate on the basis of principles of justice and law. He contends that the Palestinians have a stronger legal claim to Jerusalem than do the Israelis; that Palestinian refugees should be repatriated to areas including those within the borders of Israel; and that Israel should withdraw from all the territories it occupied in 1967.

He argues that throughout the twentieth century and into the twenty-first, Israel and its allies have overridden the basic tenets of international law, particularly the right of self-determination, to the detriment of the Palestinians. He concludes that the conflict can only be ended by establishing a viable Palestinian state.


Time to Challenge Lawyer's Domination, 26 Jul 2006
I've been working in, and studying, human rights for a long time now, and it has always struck me that all our agendas are set by the lawyer's view of human rights. Even campaign organisations like Amnesty and Human Rights Watch, basically adopt the legal definitions and accounts. But the concerns of lawyers are not necessarily those that human rights were meant to enshrine (that's one thing this book teaches you). I found this text liberating in that it makes you think outside the 'legal box', and its time we rescued human rights from it 'legalization'. The authors of the different papers really helped me to get a grip on the different views in this matter--could have done with some opinions from lawyers though. Still, I wish I'd had this text when I first started studying human rights, it would have made things much clearer.