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The final achievement of the National Social Science Foundation Post-funded Project, The Study of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights written by Sun Pinghua, Associate Professor of China University of Political Science and Law (CUPL), was published by Peking University Press in August 2012. In sextodecimo size, the book contains 440 pages and is priced RMB 50 yuan. Filling the blanks of academic studies in China both theoretically and practically, the book addresses a subject of both historical significance and practical value. Broad in vision, scientific in method, rich in content, rigorous in structure, careful in argument, the work unfolds the historical origin, formulating process, text wording, substantive content and legal status of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR or Declaration) from an interdisciplinary perspective of history, philosophy, law, language and so on. Expounding the implementation of the declaration at national, regional and the UN levels, the book, an epic work in China’s human rights research, elaborates fundamental principles of achieving international human rights standards in China and puts forward concrete measures to improve China’s human rights protection.
Firstly, the topic selected in the book is of great research value, which is also the common concern of all the mankind. As the earliest and most influential document on human rights issued by the UN General Assembly, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights possesses epoch-making significance to the whole human society throughout the international human rights history. As a common standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations, it lays solid foundations for human rights legislation at the national, regional and UN levels, and stands as a cornerstone for international human rights law and international human rights protection system, and even plays a role of a milestone in human history. In Preface II, Professor Yang Yuguan points out: “The Declaration, elaborating on interpersonal relationship and the relationship between the individual and the government, solemnly proclaims the rights of every natural person in the world; being the most authoritative document in human rights in contemporary time, from which all the subsequent international human rights conventions and instruments origin, it provides the legislative basis for human rights. The Declaration is a monumental document of profound practical and historic significance in human history.” (See the second page of Preface II in The Study of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights). It is just because of the extreme importance of this document that the present study finds its great value. In the meanwhile, prior to the work by Professor Sun, no systematic research into this document highlights the necessity and urgency of this study and also reinforces the significance of this research. The present research “has important practical significance for China to further hold high the banner of human rights, to promote the development of the human rights cause, and enhance the right to speak and domination in the field of international human rights.” (See the first page of Preface I by Professor Dong Yunhu)
Secondly, the book adopts scientific research methods, where the author, with rigorous academic attitude, unfolds a panorama of human rights protection system. For example, in quest of the historical origin of the Declaration, the author explains to readers nonwestern cultural traditions and human rights concepts when summarizing of the history of western philosophy from the evolvement of “natural rights” to the traditions and practices of human rights and the rule of law in Britain, France and the United States, thereby providing an in-depth analysis of the origin of the Declaration. As another example, in the textual studies of the Declaration, the author conducts in-depth investigations after posing the question. In order to explore the sources of different versions of the document, the author almost exhausts all the relevant literature; and in order to fully appreciate the exact textual wording, the author employs triangulation and later provides a suggested Chinese version after detailed comparison and analysis of the Chinese authentic version, Chinese popular version, English version and French version. In the meanwhile, the author adopts such research methods as literature studies, historical research, comparison, triangulation, comprehensive analysis and case studies. The multi-method research not only ensures the in-depth study in different areas, but also adds the academic value of the study. Professor Dong Yunhu thinks highly of the case study adopted as one of the innovative aspects of the book, and points out that “it is the first allround case study of the Declaration and is of certain referential significance for conducting case studies of other international human rights instruments” (See the second page of Preface I). If it reveals its high academic value ontologically, the book depicts the landscapes of human rights legislation and human rights protection at national, regional and UN levels from a practical perspective. From the successful use of a variety of research methods, we can easily see that the author’s rigorous attitude and his superb ability to control and flexibility to conduct a multi-method research has no doubt played a role during the research, which can not be underestimated.
Thirdly, rich in content, rigorous in structure, and meticulous in argumentation, the book presents a thorough analysis of the UDHR from an interdisciplinary perspective. The author can discuss the historical origin, formulating process, textual wording, substantive content and legal status of the Declaration with each part interrelated logically and systematically, leading to further analysis of the researched document, thereby not only maintaining the general direction of the research but also unraveling the origin, course, text, context and status of the Declaration. In addition to the ontological discussions, the author also explores the implementation of the Declaration at the national, regional and UN levels, thus revealing the importance of the document throughout the human history. Stretching into the history of western philosophy and the human rights concepts in non-western cultures, the book expounds and proves systematically and objectively for the first time the tremendous efforts made by Chinese representative Zhang Pengchun while the Declaration was drafted, which makes itself an outstanding achievement in both China’s academie and international human rights researches. Notably, the book dedicates a chapter on human rights progress in China. In this chapter we can find an in-depth study of the background, drafting, text, features and significance of China’s first white paper on human rights, a detailed discussion on including “the state respects and safeguards human rights” into the constitution, and a thorough elaboration on the fundamental principles to achieve international human rights standards and the concrete measures to improve human rights protection in China. From the ontological analysis to the implementation in practice, from the international level to the regional and national levels, from the comparison between the status quo of human rights in China and the human rights standards in the Declaration to putting forward fundamental principles to achieve international human rights standards and concrete measures to improve human rights protection in China. The entire argument involves a number of disciplines and shows the insight of the author’s multidisciplinary research. As Dr. Michael Addo, Member of the United Nations Working Group on the Issue of Human Rights and Transnational Corporations and Other Business Enterprises, comments in Preface III: “The multidisciplinary approach adopted by the author, in terms of engaging with the philosophy, politics, history and the law is particularly valuable asset. Above all else, it is structured well and therefore accessible to all levels of audiences.” (See Preface III) In addition, since its recent publication, the book has found itself falling into different book categories in libraries different universities and bookstores, say, international political science, international relations, social science, law and even human rights law. Though these categorizations are neither standardized nor normalized, this phenomenon per se reveals that the present work has an interdisciplinary horizon and becomes an important part of China human rights law research, exerting a positive impact on different disciplines.
Fourthly, the author’s language virtuosity makes deliberation of the over four thousand hundred characters a model of language use. Professor Sun Pinghua, leading researcher in English Language and Literature in CUPL School of Foreign languages, who achieved BA dual degree in English and Chinese, has years of English language editing experience in Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press as a senior editor. Professor Sun also achieved MA in English Language and Literature at Beijing Normal University, MA in English Language Teaching at the University of Warwick and PhD in Human Rights (the first doctor of human rights law at CUPL and in China as well). As a visiting scholar in the United Kingdom, Professor Sun taught a postgraduate course “Human Rights in China” at the Law School in the University of Exeter Law. A host of experiences in English language help to forge Professor Sun’s language superiority and research ability. The comparison and analysis on Chinese, English and French versions of the Declaration demonstrates his strong language skills and research talents. It is noteworthy that Professor Sun’s application for “2012 National Social Science Fund: Chinese Academic Translation Project” has been approved, whose final achievement will be published as an English monograph in Britain; on the other hand, the fruit (Chinese Wisdom in Establishing International Human Rights Regime) of another international cooperative research project during his visit in Britain has been scheduled to publish by Springer, the largest European publisher. The final fruit mentioned above will be published in Germany, and distributed in European countries and the world. Michael Addo, expert of Special Procedures of the UN Human Rights Council, commends Professor Sun’s exceptional work as follows: “This is an original research filling in the blanks in the research field of international human rights.” which truly indicates the broadening vision and deepening research of the author. Nonetheless, Professor Sun’s indefatigable diligence, rigorous academic attitude and noble life pursuit contribute to his outstanding achievements. In short, it is delighted to see that the author has attained a commanding height in human right law research through taking advantage of his language superiority, and has successfully bridged a gap in China’s research of human rights law, thereby setting up an example for human rights law research in China.
Finally, as a crucial academic masterpiece for further references, the book will contribute a great deal to China’s human rights theoretical construction. Though after years of theoretical exploration, generally speaking, great efforts should be made to develop the Chinese theoretical system of human rights. In addition, further efforts should be committed to China’s human rights theoretical development since no consensus has been reached in major theoretical issues. The time counts on us to accomplish the construction of human rights protection theoretical system. In Professor Sun Pinghua’s The Study of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, we see positive explorations in China’s human rights theoretical construction. This book provides us not only insightful analysis of the Declaration but also new ideas and concepts through comparison and discussion, concerning international human rights mechanism and China’s human rights protection achievements, which lies in the core of the original research. However, as professor Dong Yunhu describes in Preface I, “China’s human rights cause is in the ascendant, and there is a long way to go in China.” The author of the book has made his own contributions in the field of human rights studies, and we are looking forward to the author’s more excellent results published and making newer and greater contributions to constructing human rights protection system with Chinese characteristics and the progress and development of the cause of human rights protection for all mankind.
Firstly, the topic selected in the book is of great research value, which is also the common concern of all the mankind. As the earliest and most influential document on human rights issued by the UN General Assembly, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights possesses epoch-making significance to the whole human society throughout the international human rights history. As a common standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations, it lays solid foundations for human rights legislation at the national, regional and UN levels, and stands as a cornerstone for international human rights law and international human rights protection system, and even plays a role of a milestone in human history. In Preface II, Professor Yang Yuguan points out: “The Declaration, elaborating on interpersonal relationship and the relationship between the individual and the government, solemnly proclaims the rights of every natural person in the world; being the most authoritative document in human rights in contemporary time, from which all the subsequent international human rights conventions and instruments origin, it provides the legislative basis for human rights. The Declaration is a monumental document of profound practical and historic significance in human history.” (See the second page of Preface II in The Study of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights). It is just because of the extreme importance of this document that the present study finds its great value. In the meanwhile, prior to the work by Professor Sun, no systematic research into this document highlights the necessity and urgency of this study and also reinforces the significance of this research. The present research “has important practical significance for China to further hold high the banner of human rights, to promote the development of the human rights cause, and enhance the right to speak and domination in the field of international human rights.” (See the first page of Preface I by Professor Dong Yunhu)
Secondly, the book adopts scientific research methods, where the author, with rigorous academic attitude, unfolds a panorama of human rights protection system. For example, in quest of the historical origin of the Declaration, the author explains to readers nonwestern cultural traditions and human rights concepts when summarizing of the history of western philosophy from the evolvement of “natural rights” to the traditions and practices of human rights and the rule of law in Britain, France and the United States, thereby providing an in-depth analysis of the origin of the Declaration. As another example, in the textual studies of the Declaration, the author conducts in-depth investigations after posing the question. In order to explore the sources of different versions of the document, the author almost exhausts all the relevant literature; and in order to fully appreciate the exact textual wording, the author employs triangulation and later provides a suggested Chinese version after detailed comparison and analysis of the Chinese authentic version, Chinese popular version, English version and French version. In the meanwhile, the author adopts such research methods as literature studies, historical research, comparison, triangulation, comprehensive analysis and case studies. The multi-method research not only ensures the in-depth study in different areas, but also adds the academic value of the study. Professor Dong Yunhu thinks highly of the case study adopted as one of the innovative aspects of the book, and points out that “it is the first allround case study of the Declaration and is of certain referential significance for conducting case studies of other international human rights instruments” (See the second page of Preface I). If it reveals its high academic value ontologically, the book depicts the landscapes of human rights legislation and human rights protection at national, regional and UN levels from a practical perspective. From the successful use of a variety of research methods, we can easily see that the author’s rigorous attitude and his superb ability to control and flexibility to conduct a multi-method research has no doubt played a role during the research, which can not be underestimated.
Thirdly, rich in content, rigorous in structure, and meticulous in argumentation, the book presents a thorough analysis of the UDHR from an interdisciplinary perspective. The author can discuss the historical origin, formulating process, textual wording, substantive content and legal status of the Declaration with each part interrelated logically and systematically, leading to further analysis of the researched document, thereby not only maintaining the general direction of the research but also unraveling the origin, course, text, context and status of the Declaration. In addition to the ontological discussions, the author also explores the implementation of the Declaration at the national, regional and UN levels, thus revealing the importance of the document throughout the human history. Stretching into the history of western philosophy and the human rights concepts in non-western cultures, the book expounds and proves systematically and objectively for the first time the tremendous efforts made by Chinese representative Zhang Pengchun while the Declaration was drafted, which makes itself an outstanding achievement in both China’s academie and international human rights researches. Notably, the book dedicates a chapter on human rights progress in China. In this chapter we can find an in-depth study of the background, drafting, text, features and significance of China’s first white paper on human rights, a detailed discussion on including “the state respects and safeguards human rights” into the constitution, and a thorough elaboration on the fundamental principles to achieve international human rights standards and the concrete measures to improve human rights protection in China. From the ontological analysis to the implementation in practice, from the international level to the regional and national levels, from the comparison between the status quo of human rights in China and the human rights standards in the Declaration to putting forward fundamental principles to achieve international human rights standards and concrete measures to improve human rights protection in China. The entire argument involves a number of disciplines and shows the insight of the author’s multidisciplinary research. As Dr. Michael Addo, Member of the United Nations Working Group on the Issue of Human Rights and Transnational Corporations and Other Business Enterprises, comments in Preface III: “The multidisciplinary approach adopted by the author, in terms of engaging with the philosophy, politics, history and the law is particularly valuable asset. Above all else, it is structured well and therefore accessible to all levels of audiences.” (See Preface III) In addition, since its recent publication, the book has found itself falling into different book categories in libraries different universities and bookstores, say, international political science, international relations, social science, law and even human rights law. Though these categorizations are neither standardized nor normalized, this phenomenon per se reveals that the present work has an interdisciplinary horizon and becomes an important part of China human rights law research, exerting a positive impact on different disciplines.
Fourthly, the author’s language virtuosity makes deliberation of the over four thousand hundred characters a model of language use. Professor Sun Pinghua, leading researcher in English Language and Literature in CUPL School of Foreign languages, who achieved BA dual degree in English and Chinese, has years of English language editing experience in Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press as a senior editor. Professor Sun also achieved MA in English Language and Literature at Beijing Normal University, MA in English Language Teaching at the University of Warwick and PhD in Human Rights (the first doctor of human rights law at CUPL and in China as well). As a visiting scholar in the United Kingdom, Professor Sun taught a postgraduate course “Human Rights in China” at the Law School in the University of Exeter Law. A host of experiences in English language help to forge Professor Sun’s language superiority and research ability. The comparison and analysis on Chinese, English and French versions of the Declaration demonstrates his strong language skills and research talents. It is noteworthy that Professor Sun’s application for “2012 National Social Science Fund: Chinese Academic Translation Project” has been approved, whose final achievement will be published as an English monograph in Britain; on the other hand, the fruit (Chinese Wisdom in Establishing International Human Rights Regime) of another international cooperative research project during his visit in Britain has been scheduled to publish by Springer, the largest European publisher. The final fruit mentioned above will be published in Germany, and distributed in European countries and the world. Michael Addo, expert of Special Procedures of the UN Human Rights Council, commends Professor Sun’s exceptional work as follows: “This is an original research filling in the blanks in the research field of international human rights.” which truly indicates the broadening vision and deepening research of the author. Nonetheless, Professor Sun’s indefatigable diligence, rigorous academic attitude and noble life pursuit contribute to his outstanding achievements. In short, it is delighted to see that the author has attained a commanding height in human right law research through taking advantage of his language superiority, and has successfully bridged a gap in China’s research of human rights law, thereby setting up an example for human rights law research in China.
Finally, as a crucial academic masterpiece for further references, the book will contribute a great deal to China’s human rights theoretical construction. Though after years of theoretical exploration, generally speaking, great efforts should be made to develop the Chinese theoretical system of human rights. In addition, further efforts should be committed to China’s human rights theoretical development since no consensus has been reached in major theoretical issues. The time counts on us to accomplish the construction of human rights protection theoretical system. In Professor Sun Pinghua’s The Study of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, we see positive explorations in China’s human rights theoretical construction. This book provides us not only insightful analysis of the Declaration but also new ideas and concepts through comparison and discussion, concerning international human rights mechanism and China’s human rights protection achievements, which lies in the core of the original research. However, as professor Dong Yunhu describes in Preface I, “China’s human rights cause is in the ascendant, and there is a long way to go in China.” The author of the book has made his own contributions in the field of human rights studies, and we are looking forward to the author’s more excellent results published and making newer and greater contributions to constructing human rights protection system with Chinese characteristics and the progress and development of the cause of human rights protection for all mankind.