The Theoretical Foundations of Human Rights

Course Code: PUBLG075

Course Tutor: Dr Saladin Meckled-Garcia (Department of Political Science)

PUBLG014 Assessment: 1,000 word essay (40%) + 2,000 word essay (60%)

PUBLG075 Assessment: Two 2,500 word essays (40/60%)

Credit Value: 30

About this course

The course provides a detailed understanding of the key issues at the foundations of human rights theory and how these issues have repercussions for problems in human rights practice. Students will study the normative foundations that have been offered for human rights in political theory and philosophy, different theories of rights as well as different theoretical criticisms of human rights. They will be introduced to the arguments for and against these theories and criticisms and will be encouraged to develop analytical, critical and theoretical skills, in approaching these theories.

The course seeks to give students an understanding of the point and purpose of human rights discourse. This in turn will help them develop a view about what can appropriately be called a human right and what cannot and why. By the end of the course, students will be able to:

• understand the key issues and main theories relating to normative human rights debates
• understand, and be able to examine critically principles at the heart of human rights practices
• interpret these theories, issues and practices through the employment of critical and analytical skills
• present theories and arguments concisely and critically
• assess views and new information by evaluating its intellectual and ethical merits
• develop positive and normative interpretations of debates and problems of principle about human rights

This is a core module for students registered on the MA Human Rights programme and is not available as an optional module.