Children's Rights in International Politics: The Transformative Power of Discourse (Transformations of the State)

Provides insights into a lively field of international human rights politics -- the protection of children and their rights -- by looking at the negotiations leading to the 1989 UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. An insight into a lively field of international human rights politics -- the protection of children and their rights -- focusing on the negotiations leading to the 1989 UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. Anna Holzscheiter uses a critical discourse-analytical framework to explore the different dimensions of power and exclusion that had an impact on the final provisions contained in the Convention, dramatically reshaping the identity of the child in international politics. Children were largely seen and treated as innocent, vulnerable and mute objects of adult charity and compassion until well into the second half of the 20th century. However, with the Convention on the Rights of the Child, children achieved the status of active rights-holders and subjects under international law. Holzscheiter explores the growing literature on norm change in international relations and sociological studies of negotiations between states and non-state actors, discussing at length the revolutionary contribution of NGOs to the drafting process An insight into a lively field of international human rights politics 6 the protection of children and their rights 6 focusing on the negotiations leading to the 1989 UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. Anna Holzscheiter uses a critical discourse-analytical framework to explore the different dimensions of power and exclusion that had an impact on the final provisions contained in the Convention, dramatically reshaping the identity of the child in international politics. Children were largely seen and treated as innocent, vulnerable and mute objects of adult charity and compassion until well into the second half of the 20th century. However, with the Convention on the Rights of the Child, children achieved the status of active rights-holders and subjects under international law. Holzscheiter explores the growing literature on norm change in international relations and sociological studies of negotiations between states and non-state actors, discussing at length the revolutionary contribution of NGOs to the drafting process Front Matter....Pages i-xv Introduction....Pages 1-23 Front Matter....Pages 25-25 Power and Exclusion in Discourse Approaches to International Relations....Pages 27-45 Discursive Transformation and the Role of Institutions....Pages 46-80 Front Matter....Pages 81-81 Global Childhood — an Essentially Uncontested Concept?....Pages 83-98 Discourses of Childhood — the ‘Communicative Ecology’ of the Child....Pages 99-137 Front Matter....Pages 139-139 Origins of the Drafting of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child....Pages 141-158 Discursive Practices within the UN and the Transformation of a Global Childhood Paradigm....Pages 159-195 The Exclusionary Facets of the Social Environment and Their Effects on the New Image of Childhood....Pages 196-234 The Convention and Beyond — Future Prospects for an Analysis of Norm Change through Discourse....Pages 235-252 Back Matter....Pages 253-301