PS1535 Human Rights in International Relations

Course Description and Objectives

Since the member countries of the United nations ratified the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948, the relationship between citizen and the State has become one of the most contentious issues of world politics. Human Rights can be interpreted narrowly - as civil and political rights -- or broadly -- to include economic and social justice, and to include "peoples". The subject can be approached from a variety of perspectives: as a debate in political philosophy, as a regime in international law, or as an aspect of political development by which the performance of national governments can be compared.

Different human rights conceptions as a result of different normative goals of freedom and equality regularly lead to disagreements between nations on the role of human rights. This course will focus on contemporary human rights as defined by international law. Students will trace the evolution of the Western human rights idea from medieval Christian origins and natural law philosophy to the present understanding as legitimate claims against government. The course will also discuss alternative conceptions of human rights such as group/ethnic rights as well as economic and social eights. A series of case studies and an analysis of the work of human rights groups like Amnesty International will highlight the political reality of human rights in our time. Lastly, we shall also study the most important international human rights documents, including proposals from the 1993 Vienna Human Rights Conference.

Special Note -- Please read this before deciding to take this class:

This is a seminar and by its nature it is designed for a small number of (up to 10) advanced students who are already familiar with key concepts in political science. Please note also, that this course involves a lot of reading as well as the close reading and discussion of advanced materials such as legal documents and research papers. This is not a lecture class, therefore your participation is essential and will heavily weigh on your course grade. At times I will CALL on YOU and have you discuss portions of an article you were assigned to read. On occasions you may also be asked to provide one page summaries of some of the assigned articles.

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Course Requirements

• Massive Participation in Class Discussion (40% of Grade)

• Reading, reading, reading..........reading

• In-Class Presentation on a researched topic (10% of Grade)

• 10-12 page Term Paper (based on the presentation) due last day of class (30% of Grade)

• Take Home Final Exam handed out on the last day of class (20% of Grade)

Students will choose a research topic for a term paper and present a summary of their materials.

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Required Texts

1. David P. Forsyth Human Rights and World Politics (Lincoln, University of Nebraska Press, second revised edition)

2. Walter Laquer and Barry Rubin (1979), The Human Rights Reader Philadelphia: Temple University Press

3. PS 1535 Human Rights in International Relations Coursepack

April 1999
Reinhard Heinisch
heinisch+@pitt.edu