UQ:Human Rights & International Politics

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2014:

Online

Students are expected to spend at least 10 hours each week on this course. This time can be divided roughly into four contact hours, which comprise a two-hour lecture and a further two hours engaging the key questions and interacting with students and teaching staff in the weekly blog. Other online learning and review activities may take shape throughout the semester as well. The remaining six non-contact hours should be spent carefully reading and critically reflecting upon the required chapters before the lecture, as well as reviewing previous class materials.

Admission into the D-GLOBISS Diploma in Global Issues.

For the purposes of considering requests for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability
Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Students Experiencing Academic Disadvantage
Policy, academic requirements for this course are articulated in the Course Description, Course
Objectives and Generic Skills of this entry. The University is dedicated to provide support to
those with special requirements. Further details on the disability support scheme can be found
at the Disability Liaison Unit website: http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability/

The course examines the theory and practice of human rights in world politics. It covers the philosophical foundations of human rights, the development of human rights norms and the efforts, or lack thereof, of enforcing these norms. Attention will be focussed not only on major human rights violations such as genocide, torture, and political repression, but also on claims for non-poverty as a human right, and on the defence of the human rights of women, of refugees, and of indigenous peoples.

After successfully completing this course you should be able to:

• Have a comprehensive appreciation of the genealogy of human rights and their growing relevance to the way nation-states conduct their domestic and foreign policy;
• Use tools you will have honed to engage matters critically by situating human rights within contending discourses, cases and perspectives;
• Identify and understand the historical forces and philosophical schools of thought that have contributed to shaping and reshaping the imagination attached to human rights, and deepen your sense of responsible citizenship within the community at large and beyond.

Weekly blog 20%, 1 x 1200 word essay 15%, 1 x 2000 word essay OR 12-15 minute YouTube clip 40% and take-home exam 25%.

A list of texts and readings will be provided at the start of the course.

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

Transcripts are sent from the international partner university approximately six weeks after the completion date of the course, therefore students are advised not to take this subject in the final semester of their undergraduate program if they wish to graduate in the December ceremonies.

Student undertaking this subject must complete a cross-institutional study application form to be submitted to University of Queensland at least three weeks prior to the course start date.