The Sociology of Human Rights: An Introduction by Mark Frezzo

Abstract

Reviewed by: The Sociology of Human Rights: An Introduction by Mark Frezzo Alex Workman (bio) and Tinashe Dune (bio) Mark Frezzo, The Sociology of Human Rights: An Introduction (Polity Press, 2015), ISBN 978–0–7456–6011–0, 192 pages. The Sociology of Human Rights: An Introduction offers an alternative perspective to the traditional approaches and understanding from the growing complexities of human rights as a field of study. As such, this book is well situated to help transform this field. Within each chapter, [End Page 1054] Mark Frezzo provides a comprehensive discussion of the many dimensions related to human rights. In addition, Frezzo suggests that, until recently, sociology and human rights have not been investigated together. Due to the growing complexities and challenges facing the world, Frezzo insists that it is important to place the study of human rights within a sociological framework. For example, though human rights belong to every person, the equal distribution of rights is not always plausible. Frezzo claims that a sociological investigation of this type of problem will create new knowledge in regards to the utility and deployment of human rights. Additionally, Frezzo further claims that if human rights are to be maintained on a global scale, a globally binding framework for human rights can exist. That said, cultural pluralism protects the worlds many cultures, and human rights must consider the dichotomy between western and non-western, and secular and non-secular. Notably, this field of study, (being the sociology of human rights) as described by Frezzo, uses a pluralistic framework drawing on various theoretical and methodological underpinnings to explore human rights from diverse sociological perspectives. Frezzo postulates that both quantitative and qualitative methodologies can be utilized to effectively engage with this new school of thought.1 Therefore, the overall structure of this book review will follow the logical sequence as outlined within The Sociology of Human Rights: An Introduction. This book is rich in detail that is achieved by breaking down broad concepts into their understandable components, and providing an exceptionally thorough terminology section at the end of the book. Furthermore, this book steps away from a traditional approach to human rights, utilizing sociology to both evaluate and critique how human rights are executed and adopted between the global "North" and "South." Chapter One provides a general overview of the book. The historical context of sociology is discussed by highlighting the founding "fathers": Emile Durkheim, Karl Marx, and Max Weber. This chapter also gives a detailed contextual framework for each of the subsequent chapters by briefly discussing the historical origins of each topic, as well as how they can be viewed through a sociological lens. Chapter Two explores and critiques how human rights have been compounded into similar categories, such as negative (i.e., governmental overreach; or as mandatory sentencing for first-time offenders) and positive (i.e., services to which citizens are entitled), individual and collective, and generational; where the first generation of rights are civil and political, the second are economic and social, and the third and most recent are collective, cultural, and environmental rights. Frezzo refers to this classification system as the three-genreations framework and highlights both similarities and differences between these categories.2 Collective and individual human rights are critiqued as Frezzo points out how conflicting ideologies between nation-states and cultures become problematic. With regards to rights claims, Frezzo discusses how such claims both benefit and hinder individuals, and also vary drastically from one nation-state and cultural context to another depending on the priorities of dominant groups. For example, a cultural group may be hindered [End Page 1055] when a sovereign nation-state promotes a set of rights which privilege one culture over another.3 Frezzo uses examples to show how discrepancies between the implementation of human rights and the sovereign nation-state create complex systems in which human rights become selectively applied, with some people's rights being expanded, contracted, or even abolished entirely. In Chapter Three, Frezzo discusses the ways that the civil and political rights enshrined by documents generated during the European Enlightenment are "significant not only as ends-in-themselves, but as means to further ends."4 Frezzo considers these civil and political...