Sovereignty and the Rights of Minorities

Subject 732-729 (2009)

Note: This is an archived Handbook entry from 2009. Search for this in the current handbook

Credit Points:
Level: Graduate/Postgraduate
Dates & Locations: For information about these dates, click here.
Time Commitment: Contact Hours: 24 - 26 contact hours per subject.
Total Time Commitment: The time commitment for this subject depends on the candidates background and experience.
Prerequisites: N.A.
Corequisites: N.A.
Recommended Background Knowledge: None
Non Allowed Subjects: None
Core Participation Requirements: N.A.
Subject Overview:

Objectives:

A student who has successfully completed this subject should:

  • Understand the history of the tensions between sovereignty and minority rights
  • Understand the relationship between minority rights and human rights in general
  • Understand current debates and approaches relating to minority rights and the resolution of ethnic conflict
  • Be able to critically analyse contemporary ethnic conflicts and the claims made by involved parties
  • Understand the relationship between minority rights and various other major doctrines of international law, such as self-determination
  • Understand the relationship between legal and political developments in the emergence and resolution of ethnic conflict, and the limitations of the law.

Syllabus:

Ethnic conflict, which causes massive human rights violations and which could result in the break-up of states, has been an enduring problem for the international system. This subject examines the principles and techniques developed by international law to deal with such issues, through the study of major doctrines relating to sovereignty, self-determination and minority rights. It will also examine ethnic conflict in a multi-disciplinary perspective.

Principal topics will include:

  • The evolution of minority protection mechanisms from the time of the League of Nations to the current United Nations regime
  • The relationship between international human rights law in general and minority rights
  • Related areas of international law such as the law of self-determination, debates about the right to secession, genocide and humanitarian intervention, ‘failed states’ and the ways in which international law and institutions are engaged with the problem of ethnic conflict
  • The study of literature from various disciplines, including anthropology and political science, in our efforts to understand the character and causes of ethnic conflict.
Assessment:
  • Research paper 10,000 words (100%) (2 July) (topic approved by the subject coordinator)
Prescribed Texts: Core subject materials will be provided free of charge to all students. Some subjects require further texts to be purchased. Please visit the subject homepage on the Melbourne Law Masters website by following the link at the bottom of this subject entry.
Breadth Options:

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.
Fees Information: Subject EFTSL, Level, Discipline & Census Date
Generic Skills: Please see the Subject Objectives for this information.
Links to further information: 732-729Sovereignty and the Rights of MinoritiesMelbourne Law Masters, postgraduate law, post-graduate law, graduate law2009P

Objectives:

A student who has successfully completed this subject should:

  • Understand the history of the tensions between sovereignty and minority rights
  • Understand the relationship between minority rights and human rights in general
  • Understand current debates and approaches relating to minority rights and the resolution of ethnic conflict
  • Be able to critically analyse contemporary ethnic conflicts and the claims made by involved parties
  • Understand the relationship between minority rights and various other major doctrines of international law, such as self-determination
  • Understand the relationship between legal and political developments in the emergence and resolution of ethnic conflict, and the limitations of the law.

Syllabus:

Ethnic conflict, which causes massive human rights violations and which could result in the break-up of states, has been an enduring problem for the international system. This subject examines the principles and techniques developed by international law to deal with such issues, through the study of major doctrines relating to sovereignty, self-determination and minority rights. It will also examine ethnic conflict in a multi-disciplinary perspective.

Principal topics will include:

  • The evolution of minority protection mechanisms from the time of the League of Nations to the current United Nations regime
  • The relationship between international human rights law in general and minority rights
  • Related areas of international law such as the law of self-determination, debates about the right to secession, genocide and humanitarian intervention, ‘failed states’ and the ways in which international law and institutions are engaged with the problem of ethnic conflict
  • The study of literature from various disciplines, including anthropology and political science, in our efforts to understand the character and causes of ethnic conflict.
  • Research paper 10,000 words (100%) (2 July) (topic approved by the subject coordinator)
N.A. N.A.24 - 26 contact hours per subject.Core subject materials will be provided free of charge to all students. Some subjects require further texts to be purchased. Please visit the subject homepage on the Melbourne Law Masters website by following the link at the bottom of this subject entry.Please see the Subject Objectives for this information.The time commitment for this subject depends on the candidates background and experience.N.A.Please see the subject homepage on the Melbourne Law Masters website for up to date timetable information.LawLawYNNNParkvillePARKVILLEFor the latest information on this subject, please visit: http://www.masters.law.unimelb.edu.au/subject/732729732-7292

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