Human Rights in Southeast Asia

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2016:

Time commitment totals 170 hours.

Admission to the Masters of International Relations.

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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 seminar will focus on human rights and its critics from a historical and comparative perspective. We will explore the factors that have given rise to radically different conception of rights and justice (i.e. political, economic, cultural, religious, ideological) and look at their implementation and the obstacles at the local, national, and international levels. What is the relationship and relevance of the international human rights movement to local notions of rights? What impact is this having on local gender relations and the relationships of women to their states and communities? Are human rights NGOs weakening or strengthening the nation-states in Southeast Asia. are they sites of resistance or complicity? The seminar introduces students to different conceptions of rights, and social justice, including feminist critiques of rights discourse and of 'development'. ethnographic studies on the relationship between attitudes towards bodily integrity and human rights. the debates about poverty, economic development and access to adequate health care as human rights. We shall draw upon a wide range of sources from theoretical works, philosophical and anthropological critiques of rights discourse, and NGO documents. On completion of the subject students should have a broad historical, comparative and critical perspective on the debates about rights and justice in Southeast Asia.

• have a comprehensive grasp of established international and human rights discourses the emergent critiques that destabilize rights discourse
• demonstrate an understanding of the larger international political arena of human rights work, beyond the realm of academic discussions and theory.
• have a capacity to articulate their findings and views in oral and written presentations.
• have an advanced understanding of major issues and sensitivities regarding contemporary Asia.

• A class presentation, 10% (due during semester, each student is required to give a presentation between weeks 3-12)
• Ten 300-word reflective essays (based on weekly readings), 6% each, 60% in total, (due weeks 3-12)
• A briefing paper, 1500 words, 30% (due mid semester)

Hurdle requirements: Students are required to attend a minimum of 80% of classes in order to pass this subject.

Materials prepared by the Institute.

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This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

•. the reception of new ideas and the contextualisation of judgments. the adaptation of knowledge to new situations.

•. critical analysis and synthesis through the study of competing theories of rights and their application to diverse examples. the engagement with and processing of different critical perspectives across the interdisciplinary field of asian studies. the development of independent thought and arguments.

•. effective written and oral communication through seminar discussions and debates. critical reading skills through the reading notebook, the preparation and execution of written assessment exercises. exposure to and emulation of competing genres and protocols of critical writing.

•. information management and information literacy through the practice of library and archival research and engagement with electronic databases.

•. teamwork, flexibility, and tolerance through group discussions in seminars. reception of new ideas and opinions. engaging and cooperating with other people from diverse backgrounds.

•. time management and planning through managing and organizing workloads for recommended reading, seminar presentations, and assessment requirements.

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