- Paperback: 352 pages
- Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd; New edition edition (25 April 2002)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0140282319
- ISBN-13: 978-0140282313
- Product Dimensions: 18.8 x 12.8 x 1.8 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 982,211 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- See Complete Table of Contents
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Amazon.co.uk Review
Turning 40 can be awkward, but, as journalist Jonathan Power demonstrates in his passionate appraisal of Amnesty International, Like Water on Stone, sometimes it can be a time for quiet celebration. Formed in 1961 after British lawyer Peter Berenson read of two Portuguese students imprisoned for raising their glasses in a toast to freedom, Amnesty took its symbol from an ancient proverb, "better to light a candle than curse the darkness". From humble beginnings, Amnesty International now has over a million supporters worldwide, and while remaining one of the smaller NGOs, has one of the highest profiles through its campaigns against torture, capital punishment, and political crimes against humanity. It may often be a case of two steps forward and one step back, but that odd waltz has changed international thinking, and as importantly, saved individual lives. Its impact may often be intangible, but as Power's title suggests, it's quietly effective.
Power, former foreign affairs columnist for the International Herald Tribune and editor of the official history of the UN, A Vision of Hope, purposefully charts the organisation's success stories and cautionary tales. The first chapter, which focuses on former Amnesty adopted prisoner and now Nigerian President, Olusegun Obasanjo, who gives the book its title, is the most personal in the book, as Obasanjo is an old acquaintance of Power's. What follows are more precise histories of campaigns waged, often alone, by Amnesty, in countries such as Guatemala, where there are no political prisoners, only political killings, and the Central African Republic. The Pinochet affair is usefully sketched, drawing heavily on Geoffrey Robertson's Crimes Against Humanity, and there are lively chapters on British human rights abuses in Northern Ireland, and the interesting dynamics of the organisation's involvement in the Baader-Meinhof campaign of the 1970s, when it perhaps became involved beyond its mandate. The future, Power believes, lies in international law and courting the business community, not glamorous, but fundamental to maintaining momentum. The other massive hurdle remains the USA, which 225 years on from the Declaration of Independence, continues to embrace double standards that render its human rights record grim reading. Conclusion? Good work, but it's not yet time to put down your pen.--David Vincent --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Product Description
Founded in London in 1961 by a radical lawyer, Peter Berenson, Amnesty International is one of the most influential and respected non-governmental organizations in the world. Its story reflects the changing attitudes to political prisoners and human rights throughout the first and third worlds. Always controversial, Amnesty continues to question orthodoxies. Its struggle to free political prisoners goes on, but it also recognizes the need to fight for human rights in whatever form they are denied or abused.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
Format:Paperback
As a member of AI for 8 years, I was interested to know a little of the background of the organisation. However, this is emphatically NOT an exhaustive history of Amnesty International. There is a chapter on the foundation and development of the organisation from Peter Benenson to Pierre Sané (the previous secretary general, before Irene Khan), which is especially interesting, but the majority of the book can be seen as a series of case studies on AI's work; in the USA, China, South America etc. This gives an interesting historical perspective, especially, if as a new member you are unaware of the previous campaigns.
The greatest criticism that I can level, is that the book could really do with an update. Many things have happened in human rights over the past eight years. Sometimes, when reading this book I felt that it belonged to another era, and in a sense it does. But, don't be put off. If you have any interest in AI (especially, if you are a member) or human rights I would strongly recommended you get hold of a copy.
The greatest criticism that I can level, is that the book could really do with an update. Many things have happened in human rights over the past eight years. Sometimes, when reading this book I felt that it belonged to another era, and in a sense it does. But, don't be put off. If you have any interest in AI (especially, if you are a member) or human rights I would strongly recommended you get hold of a copy.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
3 reviews
3 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Important Subject, Uneven Treatment
27 Feb 2002
Format:Hardcover
This is an uneven book on an extremely important organization and topic. The role of Amnesty International, a private citizen's organization created to hold governments accountable for their actions, has been critical to bringing human rights issues to the forefront of global foreign policy concerns. The simple approach of having citizens write letters to government officials expressing their interest in and concern over political prisoners has resulted in the release of thousands, and has brought hope to many. Amnesty International's efforts have demonstrated that individual citizen action does make a difference; it has become a model for other organizations around the globe.
Unfortunately, the author does not successfully capture the importance and significance of Amnesty. There are a number of factual errors which, while not significant in their own right, are jarring and do raise questions regarding other statements. As one example, he states that both Nigeria and Rhodesia were British colonies in 1966; both were former colonies but by 1966 were both independent nations. His analysis is not always strong; in other instances it is virtually non-existent. On more than one occasion his writing meanders and concludes without making any point; this is particularly the case with the chapter on the history of Amnesty, and on the Baader-Meinhoff gang. On the other hand, his discussion of Amnesty's role in China is well-written, and the chapter on human rights violations is well-written, well-documented, and provides important commentary and analysis concerning the human rights record of a nation that has high standards but that does not always live up to them.
Literary and analytical weaknesses aside, the importance of Amnesty's mission, and its success (and failures) over the years, make this an important book to read. One only hopes that someone will be motivated to write a more thorough treatise on the subject.
2 of 4 people found the following review helpful
An excellent look inside Amnesty International
4 Dec 2001
Format:Hardcover
Amnesty International was started in 1961 by Peter Benenson, a british lwayer who read about students in Portugal (at that time under a military dictatorship) who received long prison terms for toasting freedom. His idea of flooding the offending government with letters, telegrams and unpleasant publicity was derided at the time as silly. Over the years, AI has kept its emphasis on those prisoners who do not use or advocate violence, and has stayed as non-partisan as possible in various international disputes while double and triple-checking all information it receives. Today, with members in over 160 countries, Amnesty International is the world's most influential private organization dealing with human rights.
This book looks at the difficulties faced by AI in its work around the world. Nigeria is the home of AI's most famous political prisoner, Olusegun Obasanjo (now President of Nigeria). Amnesty's attention to detail and fine detective work exposed the massacre of more than 100 children in the Central African Republic. Political freedom in China seems to go through phases of openness, only to be slammed shut by the government. The book also deals with death squads in Guatemala and attempts to bring former Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet to justice.
The author also explores human rights in America. Around the world, America is the first one to say something to other countries whose human rights records are less-than-perfect. But, looking at America's domestic record of police brutality, racial profiling and inability to ratify various human rights conventions and treaties, the word "hypocrisy" comes to mind.
This is a fine piece of writing. Those who are already active in the human rights field, and those who just want to know something about AI (before becoming members) will learn a lot from this book. Highly recommended.
1 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Spotty Coverage of an Important Movement
20 July 2005
Format:Hardcover
This book is rather difficult to figure out, and ultimately it doesn't do justice to its titular organization. Despite the title, this is not really a history of Amnesty International. Instead, it is more of a compendium of investigative journalism towards the subject of human rights in the second half of the twentieth century, using examples of problem areas in which Amnesty made some impact. In fact, it becomes apparent that Jonathan Power is merely reporting on human rights episodes that he happens to be familiar with as a long-standing foreign affairs correspondent. Thus, the supposed focus on Amnesty International as a social movement and non-governmental organization, and the effectiveness of its efforts, mostly falls apart as the book progresses.
The actual history of the organization appears awkwardly in one chapter in the middle of the book, with most of the remainder consisting of rather standard political coverage of a very selective collection of human rights stories that seem to have been chosen arbitrarily by the author. At certain times, this does lead to very informative examinations of political and historical episodes that may be unfamiliar to the knowledgeable reader, such as a brutal dictatorship in the Central African Republic, or the inconsistent human rights record of the supposedly enlightened South Korea. Also, the chapter on Amnesty's concerns about rampant abuse in the American prison system offers a pretty balanced, if sometimes inflammatory, outside perspective.
Unfortunately, other sections are marred by Jonathan Power's soapbox sermonizing. For example, he wraps up examinations of trouble spots like Colombia, China, and North Korea with one-paragraph pronouncements on how these nations' myriad problems can be immediately solved. Also, there are a fair number of factual errors throughout the book (especially with the dates and locations of major geopolitical and colonialist developments), and I agree with the previous reviewer on how such minor missteps can add up to major reservations about Power's coverage. And finally, the reader may want to skip the interminable final chapter in which Power unleashes a windy and inconclusive lecture on the current state of human rights around the world, with only occasional non-sequiturs to remind the reader that this is still a book about Amnesty International. Overall, this book that claims to be about that great and committed organization is often just tangentially influenced by it. [~doomsdayer520~]
The actual history of the organization appears awkwardly in one chapter in the middle of the book, with most of the remainder consisting of rather standard political coverage of a very selective collection of human rights stories that seem to have been chosen arbitrarily by the author. At certain times, this does lead to very informative examinations of political and historical episodes that may be unfamiliar to the knowledgeable reader, such as a brutal dictatorship in the Central African Republic, or the inconsistent human rights record of the supposedly enlightened South Korea. Also, the chapter on Amnesty's concerns about rampant abuse in the American prison system offers a pretty balanced, if sometimes inflammatory, outside perspective.
Unfortunately, other sections are marred by Jonathan Power's soapbox sermonizing. For example, he wraps up examinations of trouble spots like Colombia, China, and North Korea with one-paragraph pronouncements on how these nations' myriad problems can be immediately solved. Also, there are a fair number of factual errors throughout the book (especially with the dates and locations of major geopolitical and colonialist developments), and I agree with the previous reviewer on how such minor missteps can add up to major reservations about Power's coverage. And finally, the reader may want to skip the interminable final chapter in which Power unleashes a windy and inconclusive lecture on the current state of human rights around the world, with only occasional non-sequiturs to remind the reader that this is still a book about Amnesty International. Overall, this book that claims to be about that great and committed organization is often just tangentially influenced by it. [~doomsdayer520~]
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