Putting Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights Back on the Agenda of the United States

Abstract:     
For almost three decades the United States has played a central role in discouraging and sometimes blocking the development of the concept of economic, social and cultural rights, particularly in the context of the international human right regime. US opposition has not, however, followed a single unchanging course and this article traces the historical evolution of the relevant policy from 1945 through 2008. It concludes by advocating a policy of constructive engagement in relation to these rights on the part of the new administration.

Number of Pages in PDF File: 24

Keywords: human rights, economic and social rights, international law, united nations, human rights council

JEL Classification: K33, K32, I30

working papers series