INTR9051 International Human Rights: Theory and Practice

This topic will look at a number of the major issues in the theory and practice of human rights. The origins and theorisation of the concept of human rights, the role of human rights in contemporary international politics and international theory, the challenge of cultural relativism and recent developments in the implementation and theorisation of human rights will be explored and assessed, in relation to the student's own interests.

This topic aims to:

• Analyse the history of the concept of human rights
• Assess the use of the idea of human rights in contemporary politics
• Examine the place human rights has been given in international theory
• Critique contemporary understandings of human rights
• Explore the challenge of cultural relativism to the supposed universality of human rights
• Facilitate the student's exploration of their interests with respect to human rights

1. Analyse the history of the concept of human rights
2. Assess the use of the idea of human rights in contemporary politics
3. Examine the place human rights has been given in international theory
4. Critique contemporary understandings of human rights
5. Explore the challenge of cultural relativism to the supposed universality of human rights