This timely book, newly revised for this edition, addresses the question of human rights in the international context, focusing in particular on the interaction between human rights as a value and norm in international relations and Islam as a constituent of political culture in particular societies. Katerina Dalacoura's argument proceeds at two levels. Firstly, it reaches a consistent normative position on the question of human rights. Secondly, the theoretical argument is reinforced through a detailed study both of the precepts of Islam and the role of Islam in the political process of 20th century Egypt and Tunisia. Dalacoura demonstrates that the interpretation of Islam in relation to human rights principles is not static, but is subject to reformulation.

Katerina Dalacoura has taught International Relations at the University of Essex, as Tutorial Fellow, and at the London School of Economics, as Temporary Lecturer and later as Research Officer. Her next project will be a study on Human Rights in Foreign Policy at the International Institute of Strategic Studies, London.