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Why Do Countries Commit to Human Rights Treaties?

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  • Oona A. Hathaway

    (Yale Law School Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut)

Abstract

This article examines states' decisions to commit to human rights treaties. It argues that the effect of a treaty on a state—and hence the state's willingness to commit to it—is largely determined by the domestic enforcement of the treaty and the treaty's collateral consequences. These broad claims give rise to several specific predictions. For example, states with less democratic institutions will be no less likely to commit to human rights treaties if they have poor human rights records, because there is little prospect that the treaties will be enforced. Conversely, states with more democratic institutions will be less likely to commit to human rights treaties if they have poor human rights records—precisely because treaties are likely to lead to changes in behavior. These predictions are tested by examining the practices of more than 160 countries over several decades.

Suggested Citation

  • Oona A. Hathaway, 2007. "Why Do Countries Commit to Human Rights Treaties?," Journal of Conflict Resolution, Peace Science Society (International), vol. 51(4), pages 588-621, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:jocore:v:51:y:2007:i:4:p:588-621
    DOI: 10.1177/0022002707303046
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    2. Seo-Young Cho & Axel Dreher & Eric Neumayer, 2014. "Determinants of Anti-Trafficking Policies: Evidence from a New Index," Scandinavian Journal of Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 116(2), pages 429-454, April.
    3. Simon Hug & Richard Lukács, 2014. "Preferences or blocs? Voting in the United Nations Human Rights Council," The Review of International Organizations, Springer, vol. 9(1), pages 83-106, March.
    4. Valente, Thomas W. & Pitts, Stephanie & Wipfli, Heather & Vega Yon, George G., 2019. "Network influences on policy implementation: Evidence from a global health treaty," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 222(C), pages 188-197.
    5. repec:got:cegedp:119 is not listed on IDEAS
    6. Cho, Seo-Young & Dreher, Axel & Neumayer, Eric, 2010. "The spread of anti-trafficking policies: Evidence from a new index," University of Göttingen Working Papers in Economics 119, University of Goettingen, Department of Economics.
    7. Bernauer, Thomas & Kalbhenn, Anna & Koubi, Vally & Ruoff, Gabi, 2010. "On commitment levels and compliance mechanisms: Determinants of participation in global environmental agreements," University of Göttingen Working Papers in Economics 94, University of Goettingen, Department of Economics.
    8. repec:got:cegedp:94 is not listed on IDEAS
    9. Pavel Yakovlev, 2011. "The Economics of Torture," Chapters, in: Christopher J. Coyne & Rachel L. Mathers (ed.), The Handbook on the Political Economy of War, chapter 7, Edward Elgar Publishing.
    10. N. Keohane & A. Petsonk & A. Hanafi, 2017. "Toward a club of carbon markets," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 144(1), pages 81-95, September.
    11. Arvind Magesan, "undated". "Foreign Aid and Economic Growth in Developing Countries: An Instrumental Variables Approach," Working Papers 2015-08, Department of Economics, University of Calgary, revised 25 Jun 2015.
    12. Thomas Bernauer & Anna Kalbhenn & Vally Koubi & Gabriele Spilker, 2013. "Is there a “Depth versus Participation” dilemma in international cooperation?," The Review of International Organizations, Springer, vol. 8(4), pages 477-497, December.

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