Political Science 389 The Politics of Human Rights Summer 2005 Instructor:Brian Grodsky Haven Hall 7723 Office Hours:By appointment

Questions Explored What are human rights and how have they evolved over time and place? What are human rights and how have they evolved over time and place? What are the duties and obligations of states with regard to their own citizens’ rights? What are the duties and obligations of states with regard to their own citizens’ rights? How and why do human rights fit into foreign policy objectives? How and why do human rights fit into foreign policy objectives? What is the role of the international community in protecting rights across the globe and what mechanisms are available to this? What is the role of the international community in protecting rights across the globe and what mechanisms are available to this? How do leaders deal with human rights offenders after those offenders have been removed from power? How do leaders deal with human rights offenders after those offenders have been removed from power?

Course Outline Philosophical foundations of human rights and current issues Philosophical foundations of human rights and current issues Rights violations as a tool for power consolidation Rights violations as a tool for power consolidation Legal evolution of human rights: universalism versus particularism Legal evolution of human rights: universalism versus particularism Implementation of international human rights law Implementation of international human rights law Human rights in foreign policy Human rights in foreign policy Transitional justice Transitional justice

Course Expectations Class Attendance Class Attendance Quizzes Quizzes Written Assignment Written Assignment Mid-Term and Final Mid-Term and Final

Human Rights: Universal Declaration + International Covenant on Civil and Politic Rights + International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights

Other Key Human Rights Treaties Genocide Convention Genocide Convention Convention Against Torture Convention Against Torture Convention on the Rights of the Child Convention on the Rights of the Child Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (CERD) Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (CERD)

Emancipation Lincoln’s stance: evolution or political opportunity? Lincoln’s stance: evolution or political opportunity? What were the advantages of emancipation? What were the advantages of emancipation? What were the potential costs? What were the potential costs?

The Case for War: Iraq Transformed foreign policy Transformed foreign policy Selective application of human rights Selective application of human rights

Next Class Philosophical evolution of human rights Philosophical evolution of human rights Current issues in human rights Current issues in human rights Readings Readings