Sovereignty Relinquished: Explaining Commitment to the International Human Rights Covenants, 1966-1999

Countries that ratify human rights treaties voluntarily compromise their sovereignty by subjecting their behavior to externally imposed limits and scrutiny. Why, then, is ratification so prevalent? Using data for over 130 countries between 1966 and 1999, I examine whether the content of the International Human Rights Covenants and the costs associated with their ratification affect levels of commitment. I focus specifically on three theoretical perspectives: realism, world polity institutionalism, and the clash of civilizations.