Aryeh Neier

Aryeh Neier (born 1937) is a prominent human rights activist and organizational leader who shaped several major civil rights and human rights institutions in the United States. He is best known as the co-founder of Human Rights Watch and served as president of the Open Society Institute from 1993 to 2012. Born into a Jewish family in Nazi Germany, Neier fled with his family to England in 1939 at age two. After immigrating to the United States, he went on to graduate from Cornell University with highest honors in 1961 and began a career dedicated to civil liberties and human rights advocacy. From 1970 to 1978, Neier served as the National Director of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), significantly expanding the organization's scope and influence. He later helped establish Human Rights Watch in 1978, which grew to become one of the world's leading international human rights organizations. His influence extended into academia and philanthropy, serving as an adjunct professor of law at New York University and leading the Open Society Institute, where he oversaw the organization's global human rights initiatives and grant-making programs. His work has been instrumental in advancing civil liberties and human rights causes worldwide.

Readers respect Neier's firsthand expertise and detailed documentation of human rights developments, particularly in his books "War Crimes: Brutality, Genocide, Terror and the Struggle for Justice" and "Taking Liberties: Four Decades in the Struggle for Rights." What readers liked: - Deep historical knowledge and personal experience in human rights movements - Clear explanations of complex international legal frameworks - Comprehensive documentation and thorough research - Direct writing style that avoids academic jargon What readers disliked: - Dense, sometimes dry presentation of material - Limited personal narrative despite author's unique background - Some repetition across different works - Technical legal discussions can be challenging for general readers Ratings across platforms: Goodreads: - "War Crimes" - 3.8/5 (42 ratings) - "Taking Liberties" - 3.9/5 (28 ratings) Amazon: - "War Crimes" - 4.0/5 (12 reviews) - "Taking Liberties" - 4.2/5 (8 reviews) One reader noted: "Neier provides invaluable insight into human rights development, though the writing can be academic at times."

Dossier: The Secret Files They Keep on You (1975) An examination of personal data collection practices and privacy concerns in America, exploring how government agencies and private organizations maintain and use individual records.

Taking Liberties: Four Decades in the Struggle for Rights (2003) A memoir chronicling Neier's experiences and observations from his career in civil liberties and human rights advocacy from the 1960s through the early 2000s.

War Crimes: Brutality, Genocide, Terror, and the Struggle for Justice (1998) A detailed analysis of international justice mechanisms and their role in addressing war crimes and human rights violations in the modern era.

International Human Rights Movement: A History (2012) A comprehensive historical account of the global human rights movement, examining its evolution, key figures, and major developments since World War II.

Defending My Enemy: American Nazis, the Skokie Case, and the Risks of Freedom (1979) A detailed examination of the controversial 1977 case involving Neo-Nazi marchers in Skokie, Illinois, exploring the tensions between free speech and community rights.

Samantha Power She served as US Ambassador to the UN and wrote extensively about genocide prevention and humanitarian intervention. Her book "A Problem from Hell: America and the Age of Genocide" covers similar themes to Neier's work on human rights activism.

Geoffrey Robertson As a human rights lawyer and founder of Doughty Street Chambers, he documented major human rights cases and international justice efforts. His books on international courts and human rights law parallel Neier's focus on institutional approaches to rights protection.

Kenneth Roth He led Human Rights Watch for 29 years and wrote extensively about human rights investigations and advocacy. His work builds directly on the foundation Neier established at Human Rights Watch.

Martha Minow She served as dean of Harvard Law School and wrote about human rights, particularly relating to ethnic conflict and reconciliation. Her analysis of legal institutions and their role in protecting rights aligns with Neier's institutional focus.

Michael Ignatieff He headed the Carnegie Council for Ethics in International Affairs and documented human rights issues as both an academic and journalist. His work on human rights theory and practice connects to Neier's blend of scholarship and activism.