Strategizing for Human Rights: From Ideals to Practice

Abstract

Abstract The chapter argues that committing our professional futures to human rights struggles requires not only moral commitment but also the sense that we are being effective and strategic in our approaches to change making. The contribution discusses how to think strategically and apply that thinking to practical situations that are still active arenas of conflict over ideals of justice and present us with complex realities of power imbalance. Focusing on this kind of strategic and outcome oriented human rights practice, the chapter suggests strategies to broaden our understanding of available tactics, use tactical mapping and other strategizing tools to be more effective in an active human rights struggle, and apply analytic frameworks that help us think through the acceptable balance between risk and success in making social change.