Human Rights I

Course Code: MR101E

Institution:

Department of Global Political Studies

Revision:

2

For students admitted spring 2008  

Other set versions

Approval

The course was established 29 May 2001.
This course syllabus (version 2) was approved 02 March 2007 by the Board of Studies at the Department of International Migration and Ethnic Relations.
The syllabus is valid from 02 March 2007. Replacement for course syllabus ratified 29 May 2001.

Education level

First cycle

Entry requirements

The special prerequisites for this course, besides basic eligibility for university studies, are a pass mark from the following upper secondary school courses: English B.

Learning outcomes

Knowledge and understanding

After finishing the course, the student:

- can show knowledge and understanding of international law and the regulation of international laws on human rights, as well as the relationship between international and national law;

- can show knowledge and understanding of the capacity and political power the State has to guarantee the furtherance and protection of human rights; furthermore, can show knowledge and understanding of the problems which may arise because of weak political support for human rights;

- can show knowledge and understanding of the relationship between, on the one hand, democracy and human rights, and, on the other hand, state sovereignty and human rights within the field of international politics;

- can show knowledge and understanding of the following: (i)the background of the history of ideas related to human rights, (ii) the relationship between human rights as a juridical and philosophical phenomenon and (iii)contemporary philosophical discussion on human rights;

- can show knowledge and understanding of the implications of the claim to universal status in regard to rights, at the same time bearing in mind different cultural representations of rights and responsibilities as well as the value systems of world religions and

- can show knowledge of Malmö University’s perspectives: environment, gender, and migration and ethnicity.

Applying knowledge and understanding

After finishing the course, the student:

- can show the ability to identify, formulate and resolve questions and assignments relating to human rights from a juridical as well as a political and a philosophical standpoint, within given timetables;

- can discuss and present an evaluation and analysis of these questions and assignments, both orally and in writing;

- can, individually, or as part of a group, collect material and work with information on human rights, and present related conclusions in a logical and coherent fashion;

- can identify future labour markets in areas where operation is fundamentally dependent upon the concept of human rights and

- can apply knowledge of Malmö University’s perspectives to issues pertaining to human rights.

Making judgments and communication skills

After finishing the course, the student:

- can show the ability to analyse and interpret the development of human rights from a multidisciplinary perspective, and can reflect critically over the importance of human rights in contemporary society;

- can show the ability to make evaluations of questions within the field of human rights from a multidisciplinary perspective and

- can independently evaluate his or her knowledge of the subject and identify areas where he/she requires further knowledge within the field of human rights.

Assessments

Students’ performance in Modules 1-3 is appraised by means of formal examinations and assessed home assignments. The fourth module is assessed by means of an oral presentation. The examinations test knowledge and understanding of the Human Rights issues covered in the modules as well as the student’s ability, within agreed timetables and in line with other examination requirements, to critically analyse, evaluate and resolve Human Rights questions. In addition, the student’s ability to analyse and reflect upon the support for human rights in contemporary society is evaluated.

Re-sit examinations

Students who do not pass the regular course exams have the minimum of two re-sit opportunities. Re-sits follow the same form as the original exams, apart from re-sits for group work, which take the form of individual written and oral assignments.

Course content

The course contains the following modules:

- Law and HR (7,5 credits)
- Politics and HR (7,5 credits)
- Philosophy, Religion and HR (7,5 credits)
- Project Work (7,5 credits)

The first module (Law and HR) comprises studies both of the basic regulation of international laws on human rights and of control measures to safeguard human rights. The second module (Politics and HR) comprises studies of human rights in relation to the concept of state, and with regard to political power and democratic processes. The third module (Philosophy, Religion and HR) comprises studies of philosophical and ethical theories and discussions regarding human rights. The fourth module (Project Work) consists of a group project wherein students must formulate and discuss a human rights issue related to a future labour market.

Learning activities

Teaching in Modules 1-3 is principally in the form of lectures and seminars. During the fourth module, separate project group meetings are held, wherein all groups receive individual supervision of their project work.

A large part of the learning on the course is achieved by means of self-studies.

Grading system

Fail (U), Pass (G) or Pass with Distinction (VG). ECTS grading system can be used on students demand.

Reading list and other media

Course 1: Law and HR

Basic Documents on Human Rights, I Brownlie (ed) (Oxford: Oxford UP 2002).

Dixon, Martin (2007), Textbook on International Law (Oxford: Oxford UP, 6th ed.)

Smith, Rhona (2005), Textbook on International Human Rights Law (Oxford: Oxford UP)

Alternative to Rhona Smith's text book is the following book: Hanski, Raija & Markku Suksi (1999) An Introduction to the International Protection of Human Rights (Åbo: Institute for Human Rights), 2 ed. Order through Andrahandsbokhandeln in Lund. Edited by the Institute of Human Rights, Åbo Akademi: www.abo.fi/instut/imr/.

There may be a maximum of 100 pages additional articles in lecture presentations.

Course 2: Politics and HR

Dahl, Robert (1989) Democracy and Its Critics (New Haven: Yale UP).

Forsythe, David, Roger Coate & Thomas Weiss (2004) United Nations and Changing World Politics (Boulder: Westview).

Rotberg, Robert (2003) State Failure and State Weakness in a Time of Terror (Washington: Brookings Institution Press).

Stein, Eric (2001) ’International Integration and Democracy: No Love at First Sight’ American Journal of International Law, vol 95, no 3: 489-534. Available through the library’s “search articles” (J-Stor database).

There may be a maximum of 100 pages additional articles in lecture presentations.

Course 3: Philosophy, religion and HR

Patrick Hayden (2001) The Philosophy of Human Rights St. Paul: Paragon House. (IBSN 1-55778-790-5). Reading instructions will be given by teachers.

Brian Orend (2002) Human Rights. Concept and Context. Peterborough, Ont: Broadview Press (ISBN 1-55111-436-4) 272 pp. incl. appendix

David Miller (2003) Political Philosophy. A Very Short Introduction. Oxford: Oxford University Press (ISBN 978-0192803955) 160 pp.

Nancy Martin et al (2003) Human Rights and Responsibilities in the World Religions Oneworld Publications (ISBN-13: 978-1851683093) 352 pp. Reading instructions will be given by teachers.

Course evaluation

All students are offered an opportunity to give oral and written feedback at the end of the course. A summary of the results will be made available on the school’s web-pages. The students are also given a possibility to offer feedback for each module/unit.

Student participation takes place through the course council.