In an era of globalization and greater connectivity, human rights have come to the fore. Human rights depend on treaties but also increasingly on local and national laws and grassroots activism. The authors provide a basic introduction to human rights, and they unveil long-standing yet intensifying obstacles to attaining them-most notably the opposing logics of capitalism and of solidarity and collective struggles. They suggest ways to overcome these contradictions and create greater participation by the U.S. in the international community. "Blau and Moncada have written a great book unlike any other in the human rights field. It combines a devastating critique of neoliberalism with sociologically grounded scholarly advocacy of a people-centered future for human rights on a global scale. As such, it both persuades and inspires." -Richard Falk, University of California-Santa Barbara "Human Rights: A Primer provides a compelling and timely introduction to the subject of globalization's nefarious impact on human rights. Drawing on an encompassing and indivisible human rights framework, Blau and Moncada passionately appeal for solidarity at the local, national, and international levels." -Micheline Ishay, author of The History of Human Rights From Ancient Times to the Globalization Era (2004, 2008)