HU925-7-AU-CO:
Human Rights, International Relations and Diplomacy
2023/24
Human Rights Centre (Essex Law School)
Colchester Campus
Autumn
Postgraduate: Level 7
Current
Thursday 05 October 2023
Friday 15 December 2023
15
20 October 2023
Requisites for this module
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(none)
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The module would introduce students to the nature of the international system and its influence on the promotion of human rights. As a practice-oriented module, it would examine the role of foreign policy instruments in the promotion of human rights as well as the use of human rights to advance foreign policy goals of states.
The purpose of the module is to provide students with a global perspective on the practice of human rights, especially in the negotiation and implementation of human rights norms. It enables an in-depth study of human rights advocacy by multilateral institutions and international civil society organisations, comparative study of foreign policy, and greater understanding the international political context in which human rights are promoted and defended.
The module has five major objectives for learning outcomes:
1. to understand different conceptions of the international system and how they each enhance or constrain the advancement of human rights as well as the relationship between competing national interests pursued by states
2. to analyse the processes by which human rights norms are set and promoted, and to examine them in comparative perspective
3. to recognise the relevance of multi-disciplinary approaches to the understanding of human rights in a global context
4. to develop greater awareness of the tools and means of success in the advocacy of human rights
5. to develop the critical reasoning, analytical writing and oral argumentation skills
The key topics covered by this module would include:
Week 1: The Nature of the International System: Theories and Concepts
Week 2: Preventive Diplomacy and Human Rights
Week 3: Human Rights Normative Framework: Regression and Fragmentation?
Week 4: The Politics of Norm-Setting: Business and Human Rights & Torture
Week 5: Monitoring and Implementation of Human Rights: Tools and Processes
Week 6: The Role and Function of Civil Society: Mobilising for Human Rights
Week 7: Human Rights in Foreign Policy: Means or End?
Week 8: Post-Colonial Approaches to Human Rights
Week 9: The Way Forward: Continuing Controversies and Emerging Challenges.
This module will be taught via weekly 2-hour seminars.
The module teaching team will upload all relevant teaching materials on Moodle. You will find reading lists, the textbook, weekly handouts or PPS notes on Moodle. The materials in question are designed both to help you navigate the material to be covered in the seminars and to equip you to analyse the required readings. You will be expected to have completed the required readings in advance of your seminars.
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Dunne, T. and Hanson, M. (2016) ‘Human Rights in International Relations’, in M.E. Goodhart (ed.) Human rights: politics and practice. Third edition. Oxford: Oxford University Press, pp. 44–57.
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Risse-Kappen, T., Ropp, S.C. and Sikkink, K. (2013)
The persistent power of human rights: from commitment to compliance. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Available at:
https://dx.doi.org/10.1017/CBO9781139237161.
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Todd Landman (2005) ‘Chapters 1& 2: Norms and Rights at the Turn of the Century; and Empirical Theories and Human Rights’, in Protecting Human Rights: A Comparative Study. Washington, DC: Georgetown University, pp. 1–31.
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Hirschmann, G. (2020c) ‘Pluralist Accountability: A Theoretical Framework’, in
Accountability in Global Governance: Pluralist Accountability in Global Governance. Available at:
https://academic-oup-com.uniessexlib.idm.oclc.org/book/33792?login=true.
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Cardenas, S. (2016) ‘Human Rights in Comparative Politics’, in M.E. Goodhart (ed.) Human rights: politics and practice. Third edition. Oxford: Oxford University Press, pp. 77–90.
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Ikenberry, G.J. (2018) ‘The end of liberal international order?’,
International Affairs, 94(1), pp. 7–23. Available at:
https://doi.org/10.1093/ia/iix241.
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O’Flaherty, M.
et al. (2011b) ‘Introduction’, in
Human rights diplomacy: contemporary perspectives. Leiden: Martinus Nijhoff Publishers, pp. 1–18. Available at:
https://doi.org/10.1163/ej.9789004195165.i-301.7.
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Pease, K.-K.S. (2016) Human rights and humanitarian diplomacy. Manchester: Manchester University Press.
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Cooper, A. (2013) ‘The Challenges of 21st Century Diplomacy’, in A. Cooper, J. Hein, and R. Thakur (eds)
The Oxford Handbook of Modern Diplomacy, pp. 1–31. Available at:
https://app.kortext.com/Shibboleth.sso/Login?entityID=https://idp0.essex.ac.uk/shibboleth&target=https://app.kortext.com/borrow/5229.
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Carpenter, K. and Tsykarev, A. (2021) ‘Indigenous Peoples and Diplomacy on the World Stage’, 115, pp. 118–122. Available at:
https://doi.org/doi:10.1017/aju.2021.7.
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David Griffiths (no date) ‘Human Rights Diplomacy: Navigating an Era of Polarisation.’ Chatham House. Available at:
https://www.chathamhouse.org/2023/04/human-rights-diplomacy.
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Boyle, K. (1995) ‘Stock-taking on Human Rights: The World Conference on Human Rights, Vienna 1993’,
Political Studies, 43(1), pp. 79–95. Available at:
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9248.1995.tb01737.x.
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Alston, P. (2017) ‘The Populist Challenge to Human Rights’,
Journal of Human Rights Practice, 9(1), pp. 1–15. Available at:
https://doi.org/10.1093/jhuman/hux007.
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Posner, E.A. (2014)
The twilight of human rights law. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Available at:
https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&scope=site&db=nlebk&db=nlabk&AN=852345.
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Munira Ali (no date)
EJIL: Talk! – What is the Future of the SOGI Mandate and What Does it Mean for the UN Human Rights Council? Available at:
https://www.ejiltalk.org/what-is-the-future-of-the-sogi-mandate-and-what-does-it-mean-for-the-un-human-rights-council/.
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Joachim, J. (2003) ‘Framing Issues and Seizing Opportunities: The UN, NGOs, and Women’s Rights’,
International Studies Quarterly, 47(2), pp. 247–274. Available at:
https://www.jstor.org/stable/3693544?seq=1#metadata_info_tab_contents.
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Boyd, D., Knox, J. and Limon, M. (2021)
#The Time is Now: The Case for Universal Recognition of the Right to a Safe, Clean, Healthy and Sustainable Environment. Universal Rights Group, pp. 5–25. Available at:
https://www.universal-rights.org/urg-policy-reports/the-time-is-now-the-case-for-universal-recognition-of-the-right-to-a-safe-clean-healthy-and-sustainable-environment/.
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Finnemore, M. and Sikkink, K. (1998) ‘International Norm Dynamics and Political Change’,
International Organization, 52(4), pp. 887–917. Available at:
https://www.jstor.org/stable/2601361.
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Mutua, M. (2007) ‘Standard Setting in Human Rights: Critique and Prognosis’,
Human Rights Quarterly, 29(3), pp. 547–630. Available at:
https://www.jstor.org/stable/20072816.
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Deva, S. and Bilchitz, D. (2013c)
Human rights obligations of business: beyond the corporate responsibility to respect? Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Available at:
https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9781139568333.
The above list is indicative of the essential reading for the course.
The library makes provision for all reading list items, with digital provision where possible, and these resources are shared between students.
Further reading can be obtained from this module's
reading list.
Assessment items, weightings and deadlines
| Coursework / exam |
Description |
Deadline |
Coursework weighting |
| Coursework |
Essay (HU925 Human Rights International Relations and Diplomacy) |
|
100% |
Exam format definitions
- Remote, open book: Your exam will take place remotely via an online learning platform. You may refer to any physical or electronic materials during the exam.
- In-person, open book: Your exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer to any physical materials such as paper study notes or a textbook during the exam. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, open book (restricted): The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer only to specific physical materials such as a named textbook during the exam. Permitted materials will be specified by your department. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, closed book: The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may not refer to any physical materials or electronic devices during the exam. There may be times when a paper dictionary,
for example, may be permitted in an otherwise closed book exam. Any exceptions will be specified by your department.
Your department will provide further guidance before your exams.
Overall assessment
Reassessment
Module supervisor and teaching staff
Prof Ahmed Shaheed, email: ashaheed@essex.ac.uk.
Law Education Office, pgtlawqueries@essex.ac.uk
No
No
Yes
No external examiner information available for this module.
Available via Moodle
Of 18 hours, 16 (88.9%) hours available to students:
0 hours not recorded due to service coverage or fault;
2 hours not recorded due to opt-out by lecturer(s), module, or event type.
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