Mehmet Okyayuz & Junxiang Mao 
Human Rights in a Changing World 
Reflections on Fundamental Challenges

The book aims at presenting an updated version of the basic and general human rights debates. While it is frequently suggested that Human Rights are universal and indivisible, it is an undeniable fact that this is far from being true. And if there was ever any justification for talking about an ending to history, that narrative has definitely lost all justification in the light of recent developments. In fact, we are now witnessing a new harsh round of global system competition, often at the edge of a global hot war, now not anymore in a bipolar world but in a multipolar setting.


The book contributions include reflections on history and theory, the reinterpretation of rights in different national contexts and/or in relation to specific groups (e.g. women) and areas (e.g. digitization).


The book is meant to be a food for thought, at the end arguing in favour of the need to redefine Human Rights, reflecting the changes since the inauguration of the UDHR.

Table of Content

Humen Rights – An Attempt of their Social Re-Interpretation in the Light of Surveillance and Public Responsibility.- II. Focussing on the history and ideology of Human Rights.- III. Hollowing out the principle of nationhood – consequences for Human Rights.-The need for new institutions – the need for a new institutionalism.- Policy Areas.- The Relation between Political Discourse, Practice and Ideology of Human Rights.

About the author

Mehmet Okyayuz, political scientist, Department of Political Science and Public Administration, Middle East Technical University, Ankara, Turkey.


Peter Herrmann, social philosopher, having worked globally in research and teaching positions in particular on social policy and economics, currently: Research Fellow, Human Rights Centre, Central South University Changsha, PRC.


Mao Junxiang, academic director of the Human Rights Centre, Central South University Changsha, PRC.


Letlhokwa George Mpedi, legal scholar and social protection expert, University of Johannesburg, South Africa.