MA Human Rights - Law/Political Science Pathway (Standard Route)

Human rights are rights belonging to all human beings. They enjoy wide public support in liberal democracies, but debates are ongoing about the best way in which to protect human rights - whether judicially or through democratic processes - and about the extent to which human rights can be directed to solve or assist with major challenges of our times, such as hate speech and climate change. The Advanced Human Rights course covers these and other advanced topics in human rights.

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The unit aims to deepen students' understanding of human rights by examining some advanced topics at the cutting edge of the field, with a focus on the law of the UK. Studying these topics will enable students to engage in ongoing and important debates over the limits of human rights, including the extent to which human rights law should be developed by judicial bodies at the national and supranational level such as the European Court of Human Rights, as distinct from rights protection taking place through democratic mechanisms such as the UK Parliament. By the end of the course, students will be able to demonstrate an understanding of advanced topics in the field.

At this stage, these topics are expected to include: theoretical debates over the nature and mode of protection of human rights; animal rights; freedom of expression under Article 10 of the Convention and its interaction with both privacy and hate speech under Article 8; vulnerability; equality under Article 14; counterterrorism; neoliberalism; and human rights, climate change and the environment, especially under Articles 2, 3 and 8. (The topics are subject to change.)

In exploring these issues, students will be able to develop and present their own position about the desirability of judicial moves in these areas of human rights (as distinct from the possibility of entrusting such matters to purely democratic processes outside the purview of human rights law), and engage effectively with wider debates around the value of human rights frameworks. Students will demonstrate an ability to evaluate arguments made in this context and communicate their own views effectively, while responding respectfully to opposing views.

Indicative curriculum content:

1. Conceptual Debates over Human Rights

2. Animal Rights

3. Equality

4. Vulnerability

5. Proportionality

6. Freedom of Expression and Privacy

7. Freedom of Expression and Hate Speech

8. Human Rights, Climate Change and the Environment

9. Counterterrorism

10. Neoliberalism

The course will be taught with 20 hours of lectures (10 x 2 hours) and 10 hours of workshops (5 x 2 hours). Lectures will cover the main content of the course, while workshops will focus on facilitating discussion and developing relevant skills. There will be a Blackboard page for the course content, containing information about teaching, readings and assessment.

Demonstrate an understanding of topics in advanced human rights and arguments over the preferable mode of protection of human rights both generally and in these cutting-edge areas.

Demonstrate an ability to evaluate arguments around human rights, employ techniques of analysis and inquiry to develop and sustain arguments, and show awareness of and engagement with alternative perspectives

Demonstrate an ability to improve and apply knowledge and understanding through the communication of arguments in extended form, while referring appropriately to primary and secondary sources

Demonstrate an ability to evaluate arguments, evidence, and assumptions, to reach and be able to defend judgments while communicating them clearly and effectively, and to engage respectfully with opposing views.

There will be feedback within 15 days of submission for both individuals and the cohort. In addition, there will be staff office hours.

NO PRELIMINARY READING REQUIRED Information about texts will be given at the start of the course.