Introduction

Abstract

This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book analyses the way in which insights from the Marxist tradition can illuminate international human rights law. It discusses a governmentality lens in order to observe rights as technologies of governmentality. The book examines some of the implications of the strategy by using queer theory to analyse the recent Advisory Opinion 24/2017 delivered by the Inter-American Court of Human Rights. It explores the case of The Moiwana Community v Suriname, decided by the Inter-American Court of Human Rights in 2005, which is a milestone in the struggle of the Afro-descendant people of Latin America for territorial reparation. The book explains why the questions and the answers given to them can be said to be informed by the author’s anthropological training, with reference to the methodological interests identified.