This interdisciplinary research project will attempt to develop a new theoretical paradigm for the understanding of rights and liberties in a comparative perspective, with a particular emphasis on the rights and liberties of sexual minorities. The innovative aspects of the research are in its attempt to form a new theoretical framework, the collection of original data and the use of a combination of cutting edge methodological approaches to empirically test the theory. The proposed project aims to contribute in several ways to the discipline of political science, the study of law and public law, sociology and to policy studies. This research project’s main goal is to explain the creation of rights and liberties in a comparative perspective by analyzing the systematic effects of variables running the gamut from the origins of the legal system and the nation’s level of globalization to modernization and political inclusion in the polity. In terms of productivity, the ultimate goal is to produce a book manuscript and a series of journal articles based on the novel theory, data and methods. In addition, an international conference will be organized on the topic, where researchers from Europe, Israel and elsewhere will present their work and discuss substantive and methodological issues. Lastly, a student exchange program with institutions in Europe and the United States will be established and additional grant applications will be based on the products of this project.