Human Rights and the Reality Gap

On a general level, it is clear to define human rights, and it seems to be easy to agree upon its meaning. However, in practice, cultural contexts and specific historical conditions emerging from subject areas, such as housing, religion, datafication, racism, etc. make obstacles in defining human rights visible, requiring us to refer to definitional, historical and socio-economic aspects. This book looks in cross-sectional ways at different issues, after delivering a sound theoretical perspective that allows an in-depth understanding of human rights. Furthermore, it also allows us to develop an understanding of many debates that use the human rights topic as an instrument in prejudiced geo-political conflicts.With this orientation, the individual contributions allow to develop the missing link that characterizes much of today's human rights agenda. This book delivers views on practical challenges that take into consideration the specificities of subject areas, socio-historical constellations and policies that are supportive or a hinderance in fostering real progress in the area of human rights, going beyond formal legislative processes and reaching the level that is relevant in people's daily life. In short, this book combines a theoretical perspective and a hands on approach in very detailed perspectives; it allows insight into national perspectives; it integrates different disciplinary perspectives, in particular law, political science, sociology and economics.