LEBANESE INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY

HUMAN 210 Human Rights-A Global Perspective MWF: 10:00-10:50 Room TBA Instructor: Abir Chaaban MA in Interdisciplinary Studies- International Law, International Relations, and History. York University Toronto, Canada. BS in Liberal Studies-Communication Arts and Cultural Studies. Lebanese American University, Beirut Lebanon. Course Objective: This is an introductory course in international human rights. The course aims to introduce the historical development of human rights and the theoretical discourse on the universality of human rights. In addition, this course studies international legal instruments The Bill of Rights regulating human rights within the international state system. Course Description: The course is divided into five parts, an introduction to the historical development of human rights prior 1948, the theoretical discourse behind the universality of human rights, human rights law, human rights in time of peace, human rights in time of war, and some contemporary issues. Prerequisites: This course has no prerequisites. Nevertheless, students who took PHIL205 Introduction to Ethics are encouraged to take this course. Required Readings: Course Kit HUMAN-210 Human Rights-A Global Perspective Required readings Devine, Carol; Hansen, Carol Rae; Wilde, Ralph; Bronkhorst, Daan; Moritz, Frederic A.; Rolle, Baptiste; Sherman, Rebecca; Southard, Jo Lynn; Wilkinson, Robert; Poole, Hilary, Ed. Human Rights: The Essential Reference Jack Donnelly, Universal Human Rights in Theory and in Practice, 2nd Edition, 2000, Kindred, Hugh M., Karen Mickelson, Rene Provost, Linda C. Reif, Ted L. McDorman, Armand L.C. deMestral, and Sharon A. Williams. International Law Chiefly as

Interpreted and Applied in Canada. Toronto: Edmond Montgomery Publications, Ltd., 2002. Kindred, Hugh et al, International Law Chiefly as Interpreted and Applied in Canada.Supplementary Documents. Recommended Readings Castles, Stephen and Alastair Davidson, Citizenship and Migration: Globalization and the Politics of Belonging (New York: Routledge, 2000), Dixon, Martin, International Law, Fifth Edition (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2005) Michael, Allen Research and Analysis Civil Rights and Political Human Rights: Contesting Human Rights Failures within the Minimally Democratic State POLITICS: 2009 VOL 29(1), 1119 Internet sources: The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (and UN Human Rights Council) http://www.ohchr.org/english/ The United Nations Headquarters Home Page http://www.un.org/ International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia Home Page http://www.un.org/icty/ The University of Minnesota International Human Rights Library (best, in general, for human rights related documents!) http://www1.umn.edu/humanrts/ Amnesty International Online (Click Library link for County Reports) http://www.amnesty.org/ The Human Rights Watch Home Page http://www.hrw.org/ Course Evaluation Attendance Participation/Discussions/Debates Midterm Research Paper Final Exam

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Research paper: The research paper is a case study related to a contemporary human rights issue of the students choice. All student are expected to follow the term paper schedule which will be published by the instructor by the end of week one of the course. The term paper must be organized around a thesis and a coherent outline. both must be approved by the instructor. Participation/Discussions/Debates: At the end of each class a discussion on the material is held, and by the end of each Part a debate on a case study is held in class. All students must prepare an outline of their discussion questions for case studies that are held in class. Exams: Exams will test the students on the terms discussed and the information studied in class. Students will be given study questions prior to the exam. Extensions There will be no extensions for the term paper except for illness or severe personal extenuating circumstances. Otherwise, twenty per cent will be deducted from your mark for each day, including weekends and holidays. Plagiarism: Ensure that you have acquainted your self with LIU regulations of plagiarism. All plagiarized papers will be awarded an F grade. Course Schedule: Part One: Human Rights Before 1948 Week One Class Topic of Study Introduction to Course Syllabus The History of Human Rights The Greek Tradition The Roman Foundation English Traditions of Right and Law Natural Rights and the Social Contract The Enlightenment The American Revolution, and the Bill of Rights The French Revolution and the Rights of Citizen and Man Readings Carole Devine et al, Human Rights: The Essential Reference Chapter I

Week Two

Carole Devine et al, Human Rights: The Essential Reference Chapter I Castles, Stephen and Alastair Davidson, Citizenship and

 Week Three

Citizenship and rights Case Study: The Palestinian Refugees in Lebanon Universal Suffrage and Early Feminism The Labor Movement

Migration: Globalization and the Politics of Belonging Chapter I, Citizenship after the French Revolution Carole Devine et al, Human Rights: The Essential Reference Chapter I

Week Four

Internationalism, Woodrow Wilson and the League of Nations Totalitarianism, World War II, and the Holocaust

Carole Devine et al, Human Rights: The Essential Reference Chapter I

Part Two: Theoretical Perspectives on Human Rights Week Five Are Human Rights Universal Jack Donnelly, The Concept of Human Universal Human Rights in Theory Rights and in Practice Chapter I The Universal Declaration Model Jack Donnelly, Universal Human Rights in Theory and in Practice Chapter III Human Rights: The Essential Reference Chapter II and III

Week Six

Week seven

THE UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS An Overview of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights An Analysis of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights An Analysis of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights

Week Eight

Human Rights: The Essential Reference Chapter III

Midterm Exam Paper Discussion

Part Three: Human Rights Law Week Nine Week Ten Human Rights Standards Kindred, Hugh et al, International Law Chiefly as Interpreted and Treaty Human Rights International Covenant on Civil Applied in Canada Chapter and Political Rights Twelve International Covenant on Economic Social and Cultural Rights Easter Holiday Easter Holiday Collective Rights and Cultural Diversity Collective Rights and Self Determination Kindred, Hugh et al, International Law Chiefly as Interpreted and Applied in Canada Chapter Twelve Jack Donnelly, Universal Human Rights in Theory and in Practice Week Eleven The Derogation from Human Rights in Times of Emergency: Case Study: The Case of Egypt Kindred, Hugh et al, International Law Chiefly as Interpreted and Applied in Canada Chapter Twelve Research and Analysis Civil Rights and Political Human Michael Allen

Rights: Contesting Human Rights Failures within the Minimally Democratic State

Part Four: Human Rights in Time of War Week Twelve Week Thirteen The Law of the Hague and the Law of Geneva The Geneva Conventions Case Studies The Geneva Conventions The Case of Sabra and Chatila

Part Five: The Contemporary Human Rights Movement Week Fifteen An Overview of Human Rights Movement. Governmental Organizations Nongovernmental Organizations Contemporary Human Rights Issues Term Paper is Due

Week Fourteen