Policy Press

Human rights and civil rights

Human rights and civil rights are one of the most important and fundamental parts of our society, offering guarantees of equal social opportunities and equal protection under the law, regardless of race, religion, gender or other personal characteristics. However these rights are not always universally upheld, leading to extereme injustices around the world.

The books below explore these rights and the impact being denied these rights can have on both individuals and societies. 

Bristol University Press and Policy Press are signed up to the UN SDG Publishers Compact. In this cross-cutting theme, we aim to address the following goal:

SDG Publishers compact logoSDG 10

You may also be interested in our Global Social Challenge on justice, law and human rights.

Showing 97-108 of 200 items.

Refugees, Self-Reliance, Development

A Critical History

With five case studies from Greece, Tanzania, Pakistan, Uganda, and Egypt, this book tracks refugee self-reliance as a malleable concept used to pursue ulterior interests. It reshapes understandings of refugee self-reliance and delivers important messages for contemporary policymaking.

Bristol Uni Press

The South Asia to Gulf Migration Governance Complex

In this book, a team of international contributors examine the often-overlooked complex governance of the South Asia to Gulf migration corridor. The conclusions drawn enable readers to better understand migration in this region, while also providing a model for analyzing global migration governance in practice in different parts of the world.

Bristol Uni Press

Reforming the UK’s Citizenship Test

Building Bridges, Not Barriers

Thom Brooks draws on first-hand experience and interviews with key figures including past Home Secretaries to expose the UK's Citizenship test as ineffective and a barrier to citizenship. This accessible guide offers recommendations for transforming the citizenship test into a ‘bridge to citizenship’ which fosters greater inclusion and integration.

Bristol Uni Press

Refugee Law

The word ‘refugee’ is both evocative and contested. In this essential guide for students, lawyers and non-specialists, Colin Yeo draws on his experience as an immigration barrister and key legal cases to explore international refugee law.

Bristol Uni Press

Deprivation of Liberty in the Shadows of the Institution

This book presents a socio-legal analysis of social care detention in the post-carceral era. Drawing from disability rights law and the meanings of ‘home’ and ‘institution’ it proposes solutions to the paradoxical implications of the 2014 UK Supreme Court ruling on the meaning of ‘deprivation of liberty’.

Bristol Uni Press

The Cruel Optimism of Racial Justice

Looking at examples across anti-racist movements and developments in nationhood/nationalism, institutional racism, migration, white supremacy and the disparities of COVID-19, Nasar Meer argues for the need to move on from perpetual crisis in racial justice to a turning point that might change deep-seated systems of racism.

Policy Press

Criminal Women

Gender Matters

Bringing together cutting-edge feminist research, this collection uses participatory, inclusive and narrative methodologies to highlight the lived experiences of women involved with the criminal justice system.

Bristol Uni Press

Implementing Citizenship, Nationality and Integration Policies

The UK and Belgium in Comparative Perspective

Djordje Sredanovic goes beyond the theory of citizenship and nationality policy to explore how it is carried out in practice. The book draws on interviews with frontline officers for a comparative analysis of experiences in the UK and Belgium, revealing the level of autonomy of those on the frontline of integration in each country.

Bristol Uni Press

A Political History of Child Protection

Lessons for Reform from Aotearoa New Zealand

Exploring the current and historical tensions between liberal capitalism and indigenous models of family life, Ian Kelvin Hyslop argues for a new model of child protection in Aotearoa New Zealand and other parts of the Anglophone world.

Policy Press

The Roots of Racism

The Politics of White Supremacy in the US and Europe

This important book examines the past, present, and future of racist ideas and politics, showing how policies have developed over a long history of European and White American dominance of political institutions.

Bristol Uni Press

Experiments in Automating Immigration Systems

Identifying a pattern of risky experimentation with automated systems in the Home Office, this book outlines precautionary measures that are essential to ensure that society benefits from government automation without exposing individuals to unacceptable risks.

Bristol Uni Press

Experiences of Criminal Justice

Perspectives From Wales on a System in Crisis

Drawing on first-hand accounts of police officers, solicitors, barristers, prison workers, suspects, convicts and their families in South Wales, this book uncovers how austerity affects the everyday working of the criminal process.

Bristol Uni Press