COURSE UNIT TITLE

: INTERNATIONAL PROTECTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS

DEGREE PROGRAMMES

Description of Individual Course Units

Course Unit Code Course Unit Title Type Of Course D U L ECTS
IRE 4502 INTERNATIONAL PROTECTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS ELECTIVE 3 0 0 5

Offered By

International Relations (English)

Level of Course Unit

First Cycle Programmes (Bachelor's Degree)

Course Coordinator

ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR SEVILAY ZEHRA AKSOY

Offered to

Political Science and International Relations (English)
International Relations (English)

Course Objective

Human rights is a powerful idea in our time and a subject of multiple disciplines. This course aims to introduce undergrad students to the philosophical, historical, political and legal aspects of human rights in a concise manner. It does so by looking at the philosophical foundations of the idea of human rights; evaluating its legacy within the classic and contemporary western tradition; addressing the universality versus cultural relativism debate; examining the global and regional legal instruments designed for the protection of human rights; exploring the controversial role of human rights in foreign policy; and looking into the intricate relationship among democracy, development and human rights.

Learning Outcomes of the Course Unit

1   Demonstrate understanding of the philosophical foundation of the idea of human rights.
2   Trace the legacy of human rights within the Western tradition and be aware of the serious challenge posed by the cultural relativist arguments to the universality claims of that tradition.
3   Display understanding of the global and regional legal and political instruments designed for the protection of human rights.
4   Identify different purposes of human rights-based foreign policies.
5   Recognize the complexity of the relationship among democracy, development and human rights.
6   Develop the skill to make critical and reasoned argument.
7   Develop the skill to engage in discussions with the co-learners and as well as the lecturer.
8   Develop the skill to find, use, and evaluate the relevant resources, including academic and media material.

Mode of Delivery

Face -to- Face

Prerequisites and Co-requisites

None

Recomended Optional Programme Components

None

Course Contents

Week Subject Description
1 Introduction: subjects to be covered
2 The idea of human rights
3 Human Rights in Western Political Thought: Classical and Contemporary
4 Human Rights and Cultural Relativism I
5 Human Rights and Cultural Relativism II
6 International Human Rights Regimes: the Global (UN) Human Rights Regime
7 Revision
8 International Human Rights Regimes: Regional Human Rights Regimes - Europe
9 International Human Rights Regimes: Regional Human Rights Regimes - Non-European
10 Restrictions of Human Rights
11 Human Rights and Foreign Policy - I
12 Human Rights and Foreign Policy - II
13 Democracy, Development, and Human Rights - I
14 Democracy, Development, and Human Rights - II

Recomended or Required Reading

Various book chapters and articles TBA

Planned Learning Activities and Teaching Methods

1. Lecture
2. Class discussion

Assessment Methods

SORTING NUMBER SHORT CODE LONG CODE FORMULA
1 MT Midterm
2 FN Final
3 FCG FINAL COURSE GRADE MT * 0.40 + FN * 0.60
4 RST RESIT
5 FCGR FINAL COURSE GRADE (RESIT) MT * 0.40 + RST * 0.60


Further Notes About Assessment Methods

None

Assessment Criteria

The student will:

1. Explain the philosophical foundation of human rights.
2. Explain the historical evolution of human rights in the Western thought and the related debate of universality versus cultural relativism.
3. Identify the global and regional legal and political institutions desinged for the protection of international human rights norms.
4. Identify different purposes of human rights-based foreign policies.
5. Explain the linkage between the human rights, economic developmet and democracy.
6. Express views in a clear, precise and self-confident manner.
7. Make critical and reasoned argument.
8. Use library and internet resources.

Language of Instruction

English

Course Policies and Rules

1. Attending at least 70% of lectures is mandatory.
2. Plagiarism of any type will result in disciplinary action.
3. Participation in class discussions is required.

Contact Details for the Lecturer(s)

sevilayz.aksoy@deu.edu.tr

Office Hours

to be announced.

Work Placement(s)

None

Workload Calculation

Activities Number Time (hours) Total Work Load (hours)
Lectures 14 3 42
Preparation for midterm exam 1 20 20
Preparation for final exam 1 20 20
Preparations before/after weekly lectures 14 3 42
Midterm 1 1,5 2
Final 1 1,5 2
TOTAL WORKLOAD (hours) 128

Contribution of Learning Outcomes to Programme Outcomes

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LO.5
LO.6
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LO.8

CONTACT INFORMATION
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Phone: +90(232) 412 12 12 - Fax: +90 (232) 464 81 35

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