The Rights of Peoples

While the concepts of individual and collective human rights are well-known and have produced important changes in international law, there has emerged a "third generation" of human rights claims calling for the "rights of peoples." These include economic rights such as the right to development and the right to permanent sovereignty over natural resources, as well as more ambitious rights like the rights to peace and a healthy environment. This collection of essays is the first full-length study of this controversial topic, discussing from a variety of viewpoints the claims made for a third generation of peoples' rights. Is this a desirable development in human rights, or an attempt to undermine the authority of governments? The volume includes details of relevant texts and a complete bibliography.