Discourse of Rights (Political rhetoric at the end of the road)

Author: (American) Glendon, written by, translated by Zhou Wei
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2006-09-01
Features: This book is not purely a legal reading; it is also a piece of advice to the U.S. Supreme Court and a warning to politicians. The author analyzes the negative effects of the "discourse of rights" from three dimensions—legal, social, and political. The "mutual confrontation between rights" creates a legal deadlock; the "absence of discourse of responsibility" turns the entire society into a land of strangers; the "departure from tradition" transforms political discourse into an irresponsible "talk show," thereby killing the opportunity for universal dialogue and damaging the foundation of ordered freedom. The shift in perspective may not seem particularly noteworthy, but as the author skillfully blends different elements seamlessly in his discourse, it is enough to leave us with an irresistible urge to comment after enjoying the pleasure. Mary Ann Glendon is a senior law professor at Harvard University, renowned for her contributions to international human rights, comparative law, and constitutional law. She is celebrated in the U.S. legal community and was named one of the "50 most influential women lawyers in the United States" by the National Law Journal. The Discourse of Rights was written in 1991 and, following Comparative Legal Traditions (published in translation in 1993), will become the author's second major work to be introduced to China.