Singapore is known for its remarkable economic success while its strict laws on freedom of speech, drugs, vandalism, homosexuality and public protest have been legitimised in the name of maintaining public order, racial harmony and internal security for this success. Lee Kuan Yew s Asian values are widely discussed as a key touchstone for debates on universalism and cultural relativism. Singapore s official position on human rights has very clearly established that national security and public order are prioritized over the full realisation of human rights, within Article 29 of the 1948...

This unique book examines the conceptual development of human rights in North Korea from historical, political and cultural perspectives.

Dr Jiyoung Song explains how North Korea has understood the concepts of human rights in its public documents since its independence from Japan in 1945. Through active campaigns and international criticism, foreign governments and non-governmental organisations outside North Korea have made numerous allegations of human rights violations. On the other hand, the efforts to engage with North Korea in order to improve the human rights situation through...