Human Rights And U.S. Foreign Policy: Congress Reconsidered

The issue of human rights considerations in foreign policy is too often debated in terms of Carter versus Reagan. This excellent, information-backed study reminds us of the initiating role of Congress. Mr. Forsythe describes congressional weakness in following up human rights legislation, but concludes that "relative to the other views of human rights that competed in U.S. foreign policy from 1973 to 1984, Congress has not done too badly."