Includes bibliographical references and index.

An empirical overview of rights performance in Asia, France and the U.S. : the dominance of wealth in the interplay of economics, culture, law, and governance -- The protection of human rights in France : a comparative perspective -- Uncovering rights in the United States : gauging the gap between the Bill of Rights and human rights -- The protection of "fundamental human rights" in Japan -- Taking rights seriously? : human rights law in Singapore -- Human rights in Malaysia -- From British colony to special administrative region of China : embracing human rights in Hong Kong -- Human rights in Korea -- The implementation of human rights law in Taiwan -- Human rights in the era of "Thailand Inc." -- The Philippines : the persistence of rights discourse vis-à-vis substantive social claims -- Human rights in Indonesia -- Protection of human rights and production of human rightlessness in India -- Human rights in China -- Evolving concepts of human rights in Vietnam -- Conclusion : comparative reflections on human rights in Asia.