This book shows how a series of contradictions worked their way into the International Bill of Human Rights.

Christopher N. J. Roberts is an associate professor at the University of Minnesota Law School and an affiliated faculty member of the Department of Sociology. His research spans the areas of human rights, citizenship, social theory, concept formation, and jurisprudence.

1. What are human rights and where do they come from?; 2. From war and politics to human rights: the Cold War and colonial recession; 3. Protecting state sovereignty from the 'dangers' of human rights; 4. Saving empire: the attempt to create (non)universal human rights; 5. A version of human rights that permits racial discrimination?; 6. The United States' unequivocal ambivalence towards socioeconomic rights.