This is a refreshingly original analysis of human rights, past and present, which sets out major new terms of reference for political debate, it will become a standard text in the human rights field.

Johan Galtung is internationally renowned in his field and is the author of many books and articles on peace studies including Environment, development and military activity, (Norwegian Universities Press, 1982), Global Militarization (Ed. with Peter Wallensteen and Corlos Portales, Westview Press, 1985) and Europe in the Making (Crane Russak / Taylor and Francis Inc, 1989).