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Michael Freeman, "Left, Right and Human Rights" (Review of Norberto Bobbio, Left and Right: The Significance of a Political Distinction, and The Age of Rights), Res Publica III/2 (1997), 213-220: Norberto Bobbio, in two recently translated books, has attempted to defend the continuing value of the concepts of 'left' and 'right' in political analysis, and to explain the implications of the idea of human rights. Bobbio holds that the political left is committed to equality whereas the right is committed to inequality. He differentiates this distinction from that between moderates and extremists. Moderates favour tolerant and democratic methods, whereas extremists prefer militaristic, authoritarian means. Moderates and extremists are found on the left and the right. However, while Bobbio makes some useful distinctions, his analysis of equality lacks refinement, and this failure undermines his attempt to distinguish left and right convincingly. Although Bobbio adopts a position of analytical neutrality, his preference is clearly for the moderate left. In his discussion of human rights, he calls for implementation of existing human-rights standards, but holds that justificatory theories are neither possible nor useful. Once again, his failure to examine the complexities of human-rights philosophy leaves us with a well-intentioned liberal programme, but a blunt justificatory basis for implementing it. e-mail: freema@essex.ac.uk

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