This volume investigates the tension between universal human rights frameworks and the concept of 'Asian values' as a tool for defining national identity and political legitimacy. Editors Michael Hviid Jacobsen and Ole Bruun compile a series of academic inquiries that examine how various Asian nations utilize cultural exceptionalism to challenge Western-centric human rights discourse. The work provides a critical analysis of the intersection between state-sanctioned cultural narratives and the practical application of international legal standards.

Experts recognize this collection as a significant contribution to the late-1990s discourse on cultural globalization and political philosophy. Readers frequently note the academic density of the prose, which serves as a foundational text for those studying the intersection of regional politics and international human rights law.