INTR2006 Debating Human Rights

Debating Human Rights in International Relations is a topic designed to provoke critical reflection on the political and philosophical questions related to human rights and international politics. The history and development of the idea of human rights, its political extension since 1948, and ongoing theoretical and political controversies, especially those related to religion, culture and cosmopolitanism, will be examined.

This topic aims to:

• Investigate the origins, claims made about and contemporary useages of the concept of human rights
• Investigate a number of the key practical and theoretical issues in the implementation of human rights
• Familiarise students with recent debates at the levels of theory and practice regarding human rights

1. Demonstrate a knowledge of the history of the idea of human rights
2. Demonstrate an understanding of the liberal political philosophy which undergirds the human rights idea
3. Demonstrate competence in discussing the contemporary debates to do with human rights
4. Demonstrate appreciation of the place of culture, religion and politics in the debates over human rights
5. Demonstrate a capacity to defend and critique a cosmopolitan account of human rights