Struggles for the Human: Violent Legality and the Politics of Rights

by Lara Montesinos Coleman

In Struggles for the Human , Lara Montesinos Coleman blends ethnography, political philosophy, and critical theory to reorient debates on human rights through attention to understandings of legality, ethics, and humanity in anticapitalist and decolonial struggle. Drawing on her extensive involvement with grassroots social movements in Colombia, Coleman observes that mainstream expressions of human rights have become counterparts to capitalist violence, even as this discourse disavows capitalism’s deadly implications. She rejects claims that human rights are inherently tied to capitalism, liberalism, or colonialism, instead showing how human rights can be used to combat these forces. Coleman demonstrates that social justice struggles that are rooted in marginalized communities’ lived experiences can reframe human rights in order to challenge oppressive power structures and offer a blueprint for constructing alternative political economies. By examining the practice of redefining human rights away from abstract universals and contextualizing them within concrete struggles for justice, Coleman reveals the transformative potential of human rights and invites readers to question and reshape dominant legal and ethical narratives.

264 pages, Paperback

Published January 5, 2024

Reviews

[Natalya · Rating 4 out of 5]

really interesting case study on how capitalism, neoliberalism and corporate interests have captured rights. appreciate how it mainly focused on Colombia but also placed it in international relations. might be a hard book to jump into if you aren’t already familiar with critical theory of neoliberalism.

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent look into the political economy of rights. A very fresh read. Highly recommend.