Taught Masters Modules: POL6180 - Human Rights

Level: MA
Credits: 30

Module Leader: Dr Alasdair Cochrane

Description

The module offers a critical engagement with the key debates in the theory and practice of human rights. The first section of the module examines the very idea of human rights, asking how human rights ought to be defined, and whether they can or ought to be morally justified. It also looks at some important challenges to idea of human rights: namely that they are ethnocentric, superficial, and have become instruments of power. The second section explores some specific controversies in human rights practice: including such issues as how they are best protected, whether they can tackle such global problems as poverty and environmental degradation, and whether their violation can provide a justification for military intervention.

Objectives

This unit aims to introduce students to the principal arguments and debates in the field of contemporary human rights discussion. By the end of the unit, a candidate will be able to:

• have the ability to construct and criticise normative arguments in political thought
• demonstrate knowledge of the historical, legal and moral development of human rights discourse, and of the various theories and arguments underpinning debate about human rights;
• apply conceptual tools to assess the arguments for and against human rights claims and be able to analyse and clarify contemporary arguments about human rights in both domestic and world politics;
• demonstrate appropriate cognitive, communicative and transferable skills, including the ability to evaluate advanced concepts and theories, to employ both primary and secondary sources, to present reasoned and effective arguments in written and oral form, to make individual and group presentations (if requested), to pursue independent learning and to show critical judgement.

Assessment

• Essay 1: 40%
• Essay 2: 60%