https://courseoutline.auckland.ac.nz/dco/course/POLITICS/750/1205

POLITICS 750 : International Relations and Human Rights

Arts

2020 Semester Two (1205) (15 POINTS)

Course Prescription

An analysis of how governments adopt and implement human rights norms, negotiate human rights treaties with other governments, interact with United Nations human rights institutions, and set up courts to try human rights violations. Includes domestic politics as they bear on international human rights issues.

Course Overview

This course explores the policies of states towards each other and towards international organisations, non-state entities, and individuals in fulfilment of their obligations under domestic and international law to protect human rights. Instruments of statecraft ranging from diplomacy, monitoring and mediation to peacekeeping and military intervention are described and assessed in light of case studies.

Broadly, this course juxtaposes the traditional claims of states to impose order against more recent claims by individuals to freedom, rights, justice and humane treatment. It places these conflicting claims in the modern international context, characterised by international organisations, law, politics, and public opinion mobilised by NGOs.

A recurrent theme is the primary responsibility individual states bear for the implementation of international human rights ideals and agreements. A related theme is the impact of states’ domestic politics and foreign policy decision-making institutions as they affect, and are affected by, states’ international human rights obligations, goals and policies. Country case studies may include the US, NZ, or others chosen by students in which the politics of the formation of HR policy by particular governments may feature.

While common lectures and readings are presented, students will have a wide choice of essay and oral report topics to make best use of their interests, skills and experiences. Students will be encouraged to master not only traditional academic research and writing techniques but also Internet search and downloading capabilities and use of electronic information sources and presentation techniques to support their essays and oral reports.

This course may be taken in pursuit of the BA (Hons), two-year MA, MCTS, MPP, PGDipA or other graduate degrees in POIR and Social Sciences.

Course Requirements

No pre-requisites or restrictions

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 1: Disciplinary Knowledge and Practice
Capability 2: Critical Thinking
Capability 3: Solution Seeking
Capability 4: Communication and Engagement
Capability 5: Independence and Integrity
Capability 6: Social and Environmental Responsibilities
Graduate Profile: Bachelor of Arts (Honours)

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. To stimulate interest and provide background on topics that can be researched for Politics 737, Politics 780, Politics 789, and other research essays, dissertations and thesis. (Capability 1.3, 2.2, 3.1, 4.2, 5.2 and 6.1)
  2. To sharpen skills and deepen experience in efficient research, discriminating analysis, critical thinking, accurate writing, effective oral presentation, and human rights advocacy. (Capability 1.3, 2.3, 3.2, 4.1, 5.1 and 6.1)
  3. To orient students to and inform them regarding the origins, structures, processes, and political issues surrounding key international human rights institutions, including international human rights law, the International Bill of Rights, the United Nations Charter, the UN human rights bodies, the ad hoc international criminal tribunals, the International Criminal Court, and related institutions and events, and how these can be deployed in the enhancement of international human rights. (Capability 1.1, 2.2, 3.2, 4.3, 5.2 and 6.3)
  4. To alert students to the human rights aspects of their future career work in governments, international organisations, corporations, NGOs, media, teaching, and other professions. (Capability 1.2, 3.1, 4.3, 5.2 and 6.3)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Exercise Report 10% Individual Coursework
Book Report 10% Individual Coursework
Presentation 30% Individual Coursework
Essay 35% Individual Coursework
Quiz 15% Individual Coursework
5 types 100%
No plussage.  Pass mark is 50% of all coursework weighted average.

Next offered

In 2021 (provisional).

Module

Initially, students will participate in an exercise and write a report to illuminate a human rights violation, due Week 2, worth 10% of the final grade. The report will be used for a diagnosis of academic skills. See guidelines below under Week 1. Then students will write a critical book review, due in Week 4.
Then each student will research a major topic and report orally on it. The presentation will be worth 30% of the final grade. Use the Discussions Questions as focal points. Students will volunteer and the lecturer will compile a topic roster and schedule. Broadly, topic options are:
  1. an aspect of the evolution of international relations theory in relation to human rights concepts, or a philosophical school, theorist, event, or agreement with relevance to current international human rights issues;
  2. an analysis of the evolution of United Nations conventions, institutions and policies on human rights, or on UN humanitarian intervention, and U.S. policies towards the UN;
  3. a discussion of the legal institutions attempting to govern the use of war and the morality, law and politics of military intervention to protect human rights or suppress terrorism, or the human rights of terrorists or asylum-seekers; and
  4. a review and analysis of the laws of armed conflict and remedies for their violation, including national, regional and international war crimes tribunals, the new International Criminal Court, new courts for new situations, and an old court -- the International Court of Justice -- adapted to new purposes.
Students will write a term essay of up to 2500 words worth 35% of the final grade. Choose from Essay Topics below or adapt a Discussion Question. Other topics may be accommodated upon consultation with the lecturer.
Late in the course there will be a short-answer quiz, worth 15% of the final grade, details TBA.

Learning Resources

The Syllabus offers lists of Library books categorized by week and by topic.  The Syllabus also recommends official, think tank, and media sources.  Readings organised by week and by topic are accessible on-line via Reading Lists and Files.

Workload Expectations

This course is a standard 15 point course and students are expected to spend 10 hours per week involved in each 15 point course that they are enrolled in.

For this course, each week you can expect a one hour lecture, and one hour of student reports.  Students should allocate up to two additional hours per week for reading and thinking about the weekly content and six hours of work on coursework assignments, including time consulting with the lecturer.

Digital Resources

Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).

Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

Lectures and student oral reports are not normally recorded but individuals are free to bring personal recording devices.  A selection of prior years' PowerPoints and other material is available in Canvas Files and Reading Lists.

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against online source material using computerised detection mechanisms.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website at http://disability.auckland.ac.nz

Well-being always comes first
We all go through tough times during the semester, or see our friends struggling. There is lots of help out there - for more information, look at this Canvas page (https://canvas.auckland.ac.nz/courses/33894), which has links to various support services in the University and the wider community.

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.

If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page: https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.

This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Student Feedback

At the end of every semester students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions.

Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.

Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter (https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html).

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.

In this course you may be asked to submit your coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. The final decision on the completion mode for a test or examination, and remote invigilation arrangements where applicable, will be advised to students at least 10 days prior to the scheduled date of the assessment, or in the case of an examination when the examination timetable is published.

Published on 20/12/2019 03:09 p.m.