Rethinking Rights and Global Development

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2008:

For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Student Support and Engagement Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Overview, Learning Outcomes, Assessment and Generic Skills sections of this entry.

It is University policy to take all reasonable steps to minimise the impact of disability upon academic study, and reasonable adjustments will be made to enhance a student's participation in the University's programs. Students who feel their disability may impact on meeting the requirements of this subject are encouraged to discuss this matter with a Faculty Student Adviser and Student Equity and Disability Support: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/disability

This subject explores the theoretical and political issues surrounding ideas of rights and human rights, with special reference to the development process within the contemporary globalising order. It draws on recent critical, feminist and other (re)theorising within a range of disciplines including anthropology and sociology, political science, international relations, geography, legal studies, history and development studies. The subject examines definitions of rights and the reframing of such ideas within critical theory; the background to the development of the international human rights regime; the moral basis of and possibility of global civil society and global citizenship; histories of rights discourses, especially the so-called four generations of rights; the state, citizenship and rights in the developing world; 'rights', universalism, cosmopolitanism and 'culture', with particular reference to 'Asian Values'; participation and rights-based development theory and practice, especially in relation to poverty alleviation, economic and land rights; indigenous people's rights; labour; unfree labour and rights; war, displacement, the new migrations and refugees' rights; women's rights; sexuality rights; children's rights; disability rights; and NGOs, social movements and rights.

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

• show an advanced understanding of the changing knowledge base in the specialist area;

• be able to evaluate and synthesise the research and professional literature in the discipline;

• have an appreciation of the design, conduct and reporting of original research.