Do people everywhere have the same, or even compatible, ideas about multiculturalism, indigenous rights or women's rights? The authors of this book move beyond the traditional terms of the universalism versus cultural relativism debate. Through detailed case studies from around the world - Hawaii, France, Thailand, Botswana, Greece, Nepal, and Canada - they explore the concrete effects of rights talk and rights institutions on people's lives. This book will be a delightful read to those interested in contextualizing and in thinking across the notions of an international standardized legal form of rights - that no unique political or anthropological theory can be sufficiently applied to the diverse cultures around the globe.