Introduction to the History, Philosophy, and Politics of Human Rights
Please note that three course codes are available: HUMR5130 is a 15 credits Master's level courseHUMR4130 is a 10 credits Master's level course. They are differentiated by HUMR5130 having a) additional readings from the books by Nickel, Freeman, and Nussbaum (233pp). Moreover, b) school exams may differ to the effect that HUMR5130 candidates may have to answer additional questions, or different questions, from those to be answered by HUMR4130 candidates.
HUMR1130 is a 10 credits Bachelor's level course differentiated from the Master's level courses by the somewhat lower requirements of knowledge and understanding. Grading system: Pass/fail.
Note that there are different achievement requirements for courses at bachelor's and master's level:
- Master’s level: (HUMR5130 - 15 credits, and HUMR4130 - 10 credits): A good understanding is required
- Bachelor’s level (HUMR1130 - 10 credits): A general understanding is required
Achievement requirements
Achievement requirements for master’s level (HUMR5130 and 4130 -15/10 credits):
This course will, successfully completed, provide you with a good understanding of basic conceptual features of modern human rights, including standard justifications and criticisms, of the relationships between human rights and comprehensive moral and political doctrines, and of how they relate to moral and cultural relativism. You will understand the complex, dynamic, and sometimes ambiguous ways human rights promotion operate in transnational, international, and domestic contexts.
Achievement requirements for bachelor's level (HUMR1130 - 10 credits):
This course will, successfully completed, provide you with a general understanding of basic conceptual features of modern human rights, including standard justifications and criticisms, of the relationships between human rights and comprehensive moral and political doctrines, and of how they relate to moral and cultural relativism. You will understand the complex, dynamic, and sometimes ambiguous ways human rights promotion operate in transnational, international, and domestic contexts.
Reading list for HUMR4130 (10 credits, Master's level) and HUMR1130 (10 credits, Bachelor's level)
Reading list: James W. Nickel, Making Sense of Human Rights, 2nd Edition, Oxford: Blackwell Publishers, 2007 [available November 2006 This is the revised edition]:53-184. 130pp
Thomas Risse et.al., The Power of Human Rights. International Norms and Domestic Change, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1999:109-133, 205-278,99pp Martha C. Nussbaum, “The Role of Religion”, in: Women and Human Development: The Capabilities Approach, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2000:167-240, 74pp
Tore Lindholm, W. Cole Durham Jr, and Bahia Tahzib-Lie eds., Facilitating Freedom of Religion or Belief: A Deskbook, Leiden: Martinus Nijhoff Publishers, 2004:xxxvi-xlii, 24-56, 147-172, 209-238 [texts by Tore Lindholm, Javier Martínez-Torrón/Rafael Navarro-Valls, and Manfred Novak/Tanja Vospernik] 96pp. (2-year loan from NCHR library for full-time students registered at the NCHR's MA program)
David P. Forsythe, Human Rights in International Relations, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2006: pp. 57-86, 152-185, and 188-216. Joseph Chan, “A Confucian Perspective on Human Rights for Contemporary China”, in: Joanne R. Bauer and Daniel A. Bell, eds, The East Asian Challenge to Human Rights, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1999:212-237, 26pp
Mandatory readings for HUMR4130 and HUMR1130 in total: 532pp
Reading list for HUMR5130 (15 credits, Master's level),
List of readings in addition to those of HUMR4130 and HUMR1130:
James W. Nickel, Making Sense of Human Rights, 2nd Edition, Oxford: Blackwell Publishers, 2007 [available November 2006]:1-52, 185-189, 56pp Michael Freeman, Human rights: An interdisciplinary approach, Cambridge: Polity Press, 2002:32-100, 67pp
Martha C. Nussbaum, Women and Human Development: The Capabilities Approach, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2000:1-110, 110pp
Mandatory readings for HUMR5130 in total: 765pp
Recommended basic readings (all courses) about human rights in law and social science include:
Buergental, Thomas, et al. (2002); International Human Rights in a Nutshell, 3rd Ed., St Paul, Minn.: West Publishing Company: 21-146, 159-173 (139pp)
Michael Freeman, Human rights: An interdisciplinary approach, Cambridge: Polity Press, 2002 (The chapters of the book not included in the course readings)
Martha C. Nussbaum, Women and Human Development: The Capabilities Approach, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2000 (the chapters of the book not included in the course readings)