What does human dignity mean and what role should it play in guiding the mission of international institutions? In recent decades, global institutions have proliferated—from intergovernmental organizations to hybrid partnerships. The specific missions of these institutions are varied, but is there a common animating principle to inform their goals? Presented as an integrated, thematic analysis that transcends individual contributions, Human Dignity and the Future of Global Institutions argues that the concept of human dignity can serve as this principle.

Human dignity consists of the agency of individuals to apply their gifts to thrive, and requires social recognition of each person's inherent value and claim to equal access to opportunity. Contributors examine how traditional and emerging institutions are already advancing human dignity, and then identify strategies to make human dignity more central to the work of global institutions. They explore traditional state-created entities, as well as emergent, hybrid institutions and faith-based organizations. Concluding with a final section that lays out a path for a cross-cultural dialogue on human dignity, the book offers a framework to successfully achieve the transformation of global politics into service of the individual.

Mark P. Lagon is global politics and security chair, Master of Science in Foreign Service Program, Georgetown University; adjunct senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations; and former US ambassador at large to Combat Trafficking in Persons.

Anthony Clark Arend is director of the Master of Science of Foreign Service Program and professor of government and foreign service at Georgetown University. He is the author of Legal Rules and International Society.

"The concept of human dignity is powerful, but the international institutions and legal regimes charged with realizing it are not. Lagon and Arend have assembled a wealth of new strategies for strengthening these institutions to make human dignity a reality in the lives of more people."

PrefaceJohn J. DeGioia

Introduction: Human Dignity in a Neomedieval World Mark P. Lagon and Anthony Clark Arend

I. Traditional Institutions 1. The United Nations Security CouncilNancy E. Soderberg2. The Responsibility to Respect: Victims and Human Dignity at the International Criminal Court Tod Lindberg3. The UN Secretary-General and Human Dignity: The Case of Kofi AnnanAbiodun Williams 4. Regional Security Organizations and Human Dignity Chester A. Crocker 5. Inclusive Growth, Institutions, and the Underground Economy Anoop Singh 6. The Global Human Rights Regime: Assessing and Renovating the Architecture Mark P. Lagon and Ryan Kaminski 7. The Human Dignity Lens on Terrorism and Counterterrorism Anthony Clark Arend

II. Emerging Institutions 8. Transcending HIV/AIDS Social Stigma: Putting Human Dignity Center Stage in Global Institutions Rosalía Rodriguez-García 9. The New Global Landscape for Poverty Alleviation and Development: Foundations, NGOs, Social Media, and Other Private Sector Institutions Raj M. Desai and Homi Kharas10. Statelessness, Sovereignty, and International Law: Promoting the "Right to Have Rights" Benjamin Boudreaux 11. Fighting Human Trafficking: Transformative versus 'Cotton-Candy' Partnerships Mark P. Lagon 12. Religion and the Global Politics of Human Dignity: The Catholic Church and Beyond Thomas Banchoff13. Faith-Based Institutions and Human Dignity: A Growing Presence on the Global StageNicole Bibbins Sedaca 14. Business, Human Rights, and the Internet: A Framework for ImplementationMichael A. Samway

III. Institutions and Values: The Future 15. Constructing a Dialogue on Dignity: The Path Ahead Mark P. Lagon and Anthony Clark Arend

Contributors

Index