"This volume is the product of a symposium held a the University of Alabama School of Law on September 23, 2016."--Page xi.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Introduction: human rights in American law and politics / Austin Sarat -- Human rights, solitary confinement, and youth justice in the United States / Cynthia Soohoo -- The story of environmental justice and race in the United States: international human rights and equal environmental protection / Erika R. George -- Incorporation, federalism, and international human rights / David Sloss -- Why do international human rights matter in American decision making? / Stephen A. Simon -- Afterword: instrumental human rights / William S. Brewbaker.

"Human rights can be defined as the basic fundamental rights inherent to all human beings in any society. How these rights are made available and protected in individual countries is an area of much study and debate. Focusing on the significance of human rights in American law and politics, this book seeks to understand when, where, and how American law recognizes and responds to claims made in the name of human rights. How are they used by social movements as they advance rights claims? When are human rights claims accommodated and resisted? Do particular kinds of human rights claims have greater resonance domestically than others? What cultural and psychological factors impede the development of a human rights culture in the United States? This is an exciting and engaging volume that will appeal to a broad range of scholars, practitioners, and students interested in the study of human rights" -- Page i and back cover.