The location of international practices: what is human rights practice?

Karp, D. J. (2013) The location of international practices: what is human rights practice? Review of International Studies, 39(4), pp. 969-992. (doi: 10.1017/S0260210512000332)

Abstract

This article opens up space to challenge state-centrism about human rights practice. To do so, it presents and critically assesses four methods that can be used to determine who and/or what counts as a part of any international practice: the agreement method, which locates a practice by referring to speech acts that define it; the contextual method, which locates a practice by referring to the actions, meanings, and intentions of practitioners; the value method, which locates a practice by identifying a value or principle that the practice reflects or instantiates; and the purpose method, which locates a practice by constructing an account of the sociopolitical reason(s) for a practice's existence. The purpose method, based on an interpretation of Rawls' constructivism, is developed, in a way that focuses on practitioners' judgement-based reasons to assign responsibility for human rights to any state or non-state actor.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Karp, Dr David Jason
• Authors: Karp, D. J.
• Subjects: J Political Science > JZ International relations
• College/School: College of Social Sciences > School of Social and Political Sciences > Politics
• Journal Name: Review of International Studies
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• ISSN: 0260-2105
• ISSN (Online): 1469-9044
• Published Online: 11 December 2012
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2012 British International Studies Association
• First Published: First published in Review of International Studies 39(4):969-992
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher