The idea of human rights emerged from the affirmation of individualism, political relationships, and references to global concepts. This chapter explores the historical and philosophical development of human rights and the challenges in establishing a universally accepted foundation. It examines the evolution of human rights from early philosophical thoughts to modern legal instruments, highlighting the influence of individualism, political dynamics, and global interactions. The chapter addresses the difficulties in defining human rights universally due to cultural, political, and social differences. It also discusses the role of historical events and philosophical debates in shaping the current understanding of human rights. The aim is to provide a comprehensive overview of how the idea of human rights has evolved and the ongoing challenges in its universal acceptance.

As scholars and activists seek to define and promote greater corporate political responsibility (CPR), they will benefit from understanding practitioner perspectives and how executives are responding to rising scrutiny of their political influences, reputational risk and pressure from employees, customers and investors to get involved in civic, political, and societal issues. This chapter draws on firsthand conversations with practitioners, including executives in government affairs; sustainability; senior leadership; and diversity, equity and inclusion, during the launch of a university-based CPR initiative. I summarize practitioner motivations, interests, barriers and challenges related to engaging in conversations about CPR, as well as committing or acting to improve CPR. Following the summary, I present implications for further research and several possible paths forward, including leveraging practitioners’ value on accountability, sustaining external calls for transparency, strengthening awareness of systems, and reframing CPR as part of a larger dialogue around society’s “social contract.”