Human Rights in International Relations - Einzelansicht

The course aims at political science and international relations graduate students who command at least a basic proficiency in IR or political science. I will distribute the syllabus in the first session, including the organization of course assignments. The language of instruction and assignments is English. Students must enroll for the course and the term paper via the PULS platform during the official period.

Human rights have become a central guide post of global societies since the 20th century. Yet, human rights violations are likewise a ubiquitous feature of today´s world politics – from civil war and war contexts to otherwise rather peaceful and democratic polities. This seminar aims to provide graduate students familiar with tenets in international relations an overview of the core concepts and origins of international human rights, why state frequently violate human rights, and how the global regime can safeguard and improve human rights records.
The seminar’s core structure addresses three basic questions: (1) What are human rights and where do they come from?, (2) Why do human rights violations occur and how can scholars observe them?, and (3) How do global human rights institutions (treaties, NGOs, or civil society organizations) work to protect and improve human rights and are they effective? The seminar will employ several theoretical perspective to approach these questions, including institutional theory concepts in international relations (rational choice, sociological institutionalism), and international legal and philosophical approaches.

Successful students will need to actively contribute to the course through self-studying course material, contribute to class work by completing course assignments, and prepare class input, and complete a term paper in fulfillment with the applicable study program by September 30, 2023. Please register for this examination by September 15, 2023.