BASS Politics and Sociology

Human rights are often invoked by those seeking to address many of the political and social challenges that are faced globally in the 21st century. Have we conceptualised and then institutionalised human rights in ways that are able to meet these challenges? This course aims to locate the idea of human rights and the institutions associated with it, historically, looking at the social processes that led to their emergence. An understanding of the historical circumstances that produced the contemporary human rights regime allows for critical reflection on the human rights practices that we see today.  

The course is split into two sections. The first looks at the history of human rights, beginning with precolonial rights discourses and the relationship between human rights and colonialism. This section of the course explores the cultural context that saw the eventual institutionalisation of a liberal human rights regime, and how this has affected contemporary human rights practices. The second section of the course discusses key 21st century human rights challenges and the mechanisms through which they are being protected. This section of the course includes topics on migration and climate change and their implications for human rights in the future. The section also includes a topic that is co-produced with students.

The unit aims to:

- Critically assess conceptualisations of human rights and their evolution.
- Explore the history of human rights and its relationship with coloniality. 
- Reflect on the institutionalisation of human rights and the role of key human rights institutions.
- Evaluate some of the key approaches and concepts advanced by scholars to study human rights and their ability to improve human rights outcomes.
- Identify the key constraints to protecting human rights in the contemporary era.
 

Develop knowledge and an understanding of the evolution of conceptualisations of human rights and the institutions associated with them (KU1) and the ability to deploy this knowledge critically (KU2) in order to evaluate the contemporary “international liberal human rights regime,” (KU3) and address the key human rights challenges that are faced in the 21st century (PS1). This will equip students with key skills that will place them at the cutting edge of human rights scholarship and human rights practice (TS1). Regarding human rights scholarship, students will gain an understanding of human rights’ relationship with coloniality, and the historical circumstances that produced varying conceptualisations of human rights. Critically interpreting and evaluating challenging texts and the complex arguments associated with this scholarship (IS2) will enhance students’ capacity to progress to postgraduate studies and their chances of success in applications for postgraduate research opportunities such as funded studentships and their early career academic progress more widely.

Regarding human rights practice and employability, by the end of the module students will have knowledge of the prevailing human rights institutions and mechanisms (KU1), as well as important human rights issues that must be addressed and the major debates concerned with achieving this (PS1). This will place students in a position to be employed by the major human rights institutions, and other associated institutions. Students’ ability to contextualise and engage critically with the major human rights concerns of the 21st century, as well as their training in research techniques, such as: interpreting challenging texts and complex arguments, and analytical skills (IS2), will provide them with transferable skills allowing them to effectively perform in demanding, information rich workplace environments. This will improve students’ employment opportunities in roles that are commensurate with an undergraduate degree from an elite university.

The production of a video presentation will allow students to develop their communications skills in digitally mediated oral communications, including preparing and delivering complex information and an appropriate level to a target audience (TS2, TS3). In the contemporary workplace communication through mixed media is a crucial skill. In addition, the co-production, with their peers, of one of the topics included in module allows students to take ownership of their learning. Negotiating with their peers (TS3), students will gain an understanding of the processes involved in their learning, including aspects such as: pedagogy and deploying the decolonising agenda in Higher Education; Intended Learning Outcomes; and, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion. 

The course begins by discussing the principle of decolonisation and how this relates to human rights. This is then linked to the key debates surrounding conceptualisations of human rights, particularly: Universalism and Cultural Relativism. These conceptualisations of human rights are then located in the various historical and cultural circumstances that produced them. Universal human rights are considered in the context of colonialism, and the cultural relativist challenge during the period of decolonisation. The course addresses competing conceptualisations of human rights during the 20th century and the eventual institutionalisation of the contemporary liberal human rights regime. After locating contemporary conceptualisations and practices of human rights, historically, the course moves on to discuss how these ideas about human rights, and the practices associated with them, affect the ways in which various 21st century human rights challenges are addressed.
 

30 hours total.

10 x 2 hour lectures and 10 x 1 seminars.

The first half of the module will focus on the history and evolution of various conceptualisations of human rights and international human rights institutions.

Students should/will be able to: 
Identify and compare the historical trajectories of varying conceptualisations of human rights and their relationship with coloniality.

Critically assess the various conceptualisations of human rights.

Evaluate the institutionalisation of human rights and the contemporary “international liberal human rights regime.”

Apply various conceptualisations of human rights to contemporary human rights issues and critically assess the implications.

Critically interpret and evaluate challenging texts and complex arguments.

Digital literacy and the ability to plan and produce a short video presentation. 

Information retrieval and critical evaluation, synthesising materials from a variety of sources.

Capacity to make oral presentations, using appropriate media for a target audience

Working constructively in a team by recognising the diversity of views held by their peers.

Video presentation (50% - 12-15 mins):

Students can choose one of the four historical periods discussed in the first half of the module and link the period to a contemporary human rights issue of their choosing. 

Essay (50% - 2000 words): 

Chosen from a list of questions. 

Students will be able to submit and receive feedback on an essay plan so that they understand the key issues that should be addressed in each essay topic.