Human Rights and Social Policy in the 21st Century

Joseph Wronka, Ph.D. is Professor in the School of Social Work at Springfield College, Massachusetts and Principal Investigator of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights project at the Heller School for Social Policy, Brandeis University.

• Chapter 1 Part I: The Historical-Philosophical Context: A History of the Idea of Human Rights Chapter 2 Part II: A Human Rights Analysis: Implications for Social Policy Chapter 3 Part III: Essays Toward the Creation of a Human Rights Culture

This study makes a major contribution to our understanding of the relationship between the rights recognized in international instruments such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights on the one hand, and the U.S. and state Constitutions on the other. It also underlines the all-too-often neglected fact that social justice concerns are never very much part of 'human rights' as properly understood. -- Philip Alston, New York University ...recognizes and affirms different ways of knowing among cultures of the world. Journal Of Social Work Education This rich study deserves the close attention of everyone who yearns for a more just and compassionate world. -- Robert F. Drinan, S.J., Georgetown University Law Center ...'Human Rights and Social Policy in the 21st Century' offers a unique contribution to evaluation of the impact of U.S. constitutional law as it relates to the implementation of human rights in U.S. social policy. -- Yussuf Kly, University of Regina, Canada ...an interesting historical review emphasizing the emergence of civil and political rights...covers a substantive field and should be widely used in social policy teaching. Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare ...an interesting historical review emphasizing the emergence of civil and political rights...covers a substantive field and should be widely used in social policy teaching. Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare ...recognizes and affirms different ways of knowing among cultures of the world. Journal Of Social Work Education This rich study deserves the close attention of everyone who yearns for a more just and compassionate world. -- Robert F. Drinan, S.J., Georgetown University Law Center ...'Human Rights and Social Policy in the 21st Century' offers a unique contribution to evaluation of the impact of U.S. constitutional law as it relates to the implementation of human rights in U.S. social policy. -- Yussuf Kly, University of Regina, Canada This study makes a major contribution to our understanding of the relationship between the rights recognized in international instruments such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights on the one hand, and the U.S. and state Constitutions on the other. It also underlines the all-too-often neglected fact that social justice concerns are never very much part of 'human rights' as properly understood. -- Philip Alston, New York University This book will not only enrich readers intellectually, but will also motivate them to join local and global movements to promote human rights as defined by the Universal Declaration. -- from the foreword by David G. Gill, Brandeis University [A] well documented general history of international human rights with close analysis of American texts... -- From the First Edition CHOICE I am enormously impressed with Dr. Wronka's accomplishment. By using the U.N. Universal Declaration of Human Rights as a standard, he has enlarged the discussion of the Bill of Rights, which usually is limited to interpretations of the Ten Amendments, to ask the important question: what about social and economic rights? He understand the limitations of mere words, mere declarations, but knows that noble words can be used to ennoble, to provoke, and to move society forward. -- Howard Zinn, author of A People's History of the United States and professor emeritus of Political Science, Boston University This book should be must reading for anyone with an interest in human rights- whether as a student, activist or scholar. It provides an excellent historical introduction to human rights thinking and a useful catalogue of the strengths and shortcomings of state and federal constitutions in the United States as guarantees of those rights. The author appropriately concludes that the major human rights challenge facing the United States today is to find both the means and the political will to honor economic and social human rights to the same extent we do political and civil rights. In this respect the book gives a badly needed wake-up call and its message is right on target. -- Dr. Philip L. Harvey, author of Securing the Right to Employment