Demands of Justice draws on original interviews and archival research to show how global appeals for human rights began in the 1970s to expand the boundaries of the global neighbourhood and disseminate new arguments about humane concern and law in direct opposition to human rights violations. Turning a justice lens on human rights practice, Clark argues that human rights practice offers tools that enrich three facets of global justice: transnational expressions of simple concern, the political realization of justice through politics and law, and new but still incomplete approaches to social justice. A key case study explores the origins of Amnesty International's well-known Urgent Action alerts for individuals, as well as temporal change in the use of law in such appeals. A second case study, of Oxfam's adoption of rights language, demonstrates the spread of human rights as a primary way of expressing calls for justice in the world.

‘This book is a stellar example of the best scholarship on human rights advocacy. Clark explores the ways ordinary people help forge paths to justice, focusing on the evolution of Amnesty International and Oxfam's engagement with advocates and demonstrating the effect that these ‘global helpers' have had on shaping norms and policy outcomes. Demands of Justice offers a rigorous framework for interpreting ongoing struggles (analytical, political, and practical) and centers the voices of advocates themselves in its synthesis.'

Shareen Hertel - Professor of Political Science and Human Rights, University of Connecticut

'No other book so directly and persuasively addresses the interaction of human rights advocacy and demands for justice, leading to an understanding of human rights as an evolving form of justice work. Clark’s eloquent book melds sophisticated theory with fine-grained research and moving stories of activists.'

Kathryn Sikkink - Ryan Family Professor, Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University

'This jewel of a book situates human rights within theories of justice, especially notions of care and concern, fairness, and dignity. Professor Clark shows that, however imperfectly, the practice of human rights has helped to advance the goals of such justice.'

Beth Simmons - Andrea Mitchell University Professor in Law, Political Science, and Business Ethics, University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School

'… an interesting contribution on how individual non-governmental organizations from across the human rights and development sectors can effectively communicate their message in a changing technological and international legal environment.'

Jacob Smith Source: International Affairs