Human Rights

2020/2021

Academic Year

ENG

Instruction in English

4

ECTS credits

Delivered at:

Department of Political Science and International Affairs

Course type:

Elective course

When:

3 year, 1, 2 module

Instructors

Павлова Екатерина Александровна

Sungurov, Alexander

Course Syllabus

Abstract

The course is devoted to the historical development and contemporary concept of the human rights. The analysis of the human rights will start with the analysis of different approaches to its definition. The relationship between the concept of the human rights universality and different political ideologies will be in focus of analyses. The answer to the question, why the universality of human rights is so widely recognized now, as well as international and national institutions for human rights promotion and protection will be among the topics of this course. The institutions and practices for human protection will be analyzed at national and international levels. Special attention will be given to the HR-NGOs activities in countries with authoritarian traditions. The Soviet and Russian experience of human rights protection will be discussed as well.

Learning Objectives

• The main goal of the course is to introduce students to basic notions of Human Rights concept

Expected Learning Outcomes

• Student is familiar with notion of Human Rights
• Student is familiar with relationship between Human Rights and National Sovereignty
• Student is familiar with International Human Rights Institutions and mechanisms of Human Rights protection
• Student is familiar with National Human Rights Institutes and mechanisms of Human Rights protection
• Student is familiar with history of Human Rights in USSR
• Student is familiar with Human rights institutionalization in post-communist Russia
• Student is familiar with development of institute of Human Rights Commissioner at federal and regional levels in Russia
• Student is familiar with role and significance of Human Rights NGOs and HR defenders worldwide and in Russia
• Student is familiar with Children‟s rights as a separate concept, and its main decrees
• Student is familiar with state of Human Rights in XXI century
• Able to conduct professional activities internationally
• Able to think critically and interpret the experience (personal and of other persons), relate to professional and social activities
• Able to solve professional problems based on synthesis and analysis
• Able to identify scientific subject

Course Contents

• Concept of Human Rights
• Human Rights and State Sovereignty
• International Human Rights Institutions and mechanisms of Human Rights protection
• National Human Rights Institutes and mechanisms of Human Rights protection
• Human Rights in USSR.
• Human rights institutionalization in post-communist Russia
• Human Rights Commissioner in Russia
• Human Rights NGOs and HR defenders worldwide and in Russia
• Children‟s Rights.
• Human Rights in XXI Century: Unresolved Problems

Assessment Elements

• Class activity
• Essay
• Oral exam

Interim Assessment

• Interim assessment (2 module)
  0.3 * Class activity + 0.3 * Essay + 0.4 * Oral exam

Bibliography

Recommended Core Bibliography

• Beitz, C. R. (2001). Human Rights as a Common Concern. American Political Science Review, (02), 269. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsrep&AN=edsrep.a.cup.apsrev.v95y2001i02p269.282.99
• HABERMAS, J. (2010). The Concept of Human Dignity and the Realistic Utopia of Human Rights. Metaphilosophy, 41(4), 464–480. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9973.2010.01648.x
• Tharoor, S. (1999). Are Human Rights Universal? World Policy Journal, 16(4), 1. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=asn&AN=2717057

Recommended Additional Bibliography

• Kabasakal Arat, Z. (2008). Human Rights and Structural Adjustment. Journal of Human Rights, 7(4), 397–399. https://doi.org/10.1080/14754830802476910