COURSE INTRODUCTION AND APPLICATION INFORMATION

Course Name
Politics of Human Rights
Code
Semester
Theory
(hour/week)
Application/Lab
(hour/week)
Local Credits
ECTS
GEET 311
Fall/Spring
3
0
3
4
Prerequisites
None
Course Language
English
Course Type
Service Course
Course Level
First Cycle
Mode of Delivery -
Teaching Methods and Techniques of the Course Discussion
Lecture / Presentation
Course Coordinator -
Course Lecturer(s)
Assistant(s)
Course Objectives This course is designed to introduce students with the development of human rights as a global phenomenon, an international legal regime transgressing state borders. Our aim is to explore certain questions pertaining to human rights: What is it that we call “human rights”? In what historical periods can we locate progress and expansion in human rights? What do human rights stand for/against? What does it mean to have human rights with a claim to universality? By giving priority to primary texts and documents on human rights, we will try to understand this historical, legal, and political concept both in theory and practice.
Learning Outcomes The students who succeeded in this course;
  • to be able to explain political history of human rights
  • to be able to evaluate changes in human rights during the globalization process
  • to be able to explain use of child labor within the context of human rights violations
  • to be able to analyze climate change within the context of human rights violations
  • to be able to explain economic, social and political aspects of human rights in Turkey
Course Description Our course will proceed on the basis of three parts. In the first part, we will have a general introduction to the course, and will read the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of 1948 adopted by the United Nations. In this part, we will also spend time on a broad yet somewhat nuanced enough trajectory of human rights. In so doing, we will try to diagnose and shed light upon certain keystones, radical shifts, and arguably progressive moments in historical development of conceptual, political and legal articulations of human rights. In the second part, we will focus on the early 20th century developments on human rights; such as the two world wars, the Nuremberg Trials, and the international recognition of “crimes against humanity” and genocide. We will spare our last few weeks on the decolonization period onwards. In this part we will discuss issues such as right to self-determination, child labor, migrant workers, and rights of persons with disabilities.
Related Sustainable Development Goals

 



Course Category

 Core Courses
Major Area Courses
Supportive Courses
Media and Managment Skills Courses
Transferable Skill Courses

 

WEEKLY SUBJECTS AND RELATED PREPARATION STUDIES

Week Subjects Required Materials
1 Introduction to the course: Presentation and an overview of the course, course organization, requirements and methods of evaluation
2 Defining the Concept of Human Rights Carey, et. Al. (Cambridge University Press, 2010): “The Politics of Human Rights”, pp.7-39
3 Historical Development and Philosophical Justifications of Human Rights Andrew Clapham (Oxford University Press, 2007): “Human Rights – a Very Short Introduction”, pp.23-56
4 Human Rights and Political Theory Hannah Arendt – The Perplexities of the Rights of Men in Origins of Totalitarianism
5 Genocide and Crimes against Humanity UN Charter, Nuremberg Trials, Convention on Genocide (1948) Andrew Clapham, “Persecution of International Crimes,” in Human Rights: A Very Short Introduction, (NY: Oxford University Press), pp. 33-42.
6 Rights of refugees, migrants, prisoners of war and prevention of torture UN Convention Relating to Status of Refugees (1951) Sabine C. Carey et al. “The Politics of Human Rights”, pp. 73-86.
7 Midterm I
8 Human Rights and Political Theory Jaques Ranciere – “Who is the Subject of Rights of Men?”
9 Human Rights and Political Theory Martha Nussbaum – “Capabilities and Human Rights
10 Cultural Rights as Human Rights Henriette Dahan Kalev, 2004, “Cultural Rights or Human Rights: The Case of Female Genital Mutilation” Sex Roles, Vol. 51, No. 5/6.
11 Human rights in Turkey Zehra Kabasakal Arat, “Collisions and Crossroads: Introducing Human Rights in Turkey”.
12 Midterm - II
13 Human Rights and Political Theory Bruce Ackerman – “We the People” Introduction
14 Human Rights and Political Theory Claude Lefort – The Political Forms of Modern Society, Chapter 7: Politics and Human Rights
15 Review of the Semester
16 Final Exam
Course Notes/Textbooks
Suggested Readings/Materials

 

EVALUATION SYSTEM

Semester Activities Number Weigthing
Participation
1
20
Laboratory / Application
Field Work
Quizzes / Studio Critiques
Portfolio
Homework / Assignments
Presentation / Jury
Project
Seminar / Workshop
Oral Exam
Midterm
2
50
Final Exam
1
30
Total

Weighting of Semester Activities on the Final Grade
3
60
Weighting of End-of-Semester Activities on the Final Grade
1
40
Total

ECTS / WORKLOAD TABLE

Semester Activities Number Duration (Hours) Workload
Course Hours
(Including exam week: 16 x total hours)
16
3
48
Laboratory / Application Hours
(Including exam week: 16 x total hours)
16
Study Hours Out of Class
0
Field Work
Quizzes / Studio Critiques
Portfolio
Homework / Assignments
Presentation / Jury
Project
Seminar / Workshop
Oral Exam
Midterms
2
20
Final Exams
1
30
    Total
118

 

COURSE LEARNING OUTCOMES AND PROGRAM QUALIFICATIONS RELATIONSHIP

#
 Program Competencies/Outcomes
* Contribution Level
1
2
3
4
5
1

To have adequate knowledge in Mathematics, Science and Civil Engineering; to be able to use theoretical and applied information in these areas on complex engineering problems.
2

To be able to identify, define, formulate, and solve complex Civil Engineering problems; to be able to select and apply proper analysis and modeling methods for this purpose.
3

To be able to design a complex system, process, device or product under realistic constraints and conditions, in such a way as to meet the requirements; to be able to apply modern design methods for this purpose.
4

To be able to devise, select, and use modern techniques and tools needed for analysis and solution of complex problems in engineering applications.
5

To be able to design and conduct experiments, gather data, analyze and interpret results for investigating complex engineering problems or Civil Engineering research topics.
6

To be able to work efficiently in Civil Engineering disciplinary and multi-disciplinary teams; to be able to work individually.
7

To be able to communicate effectively in Turkish, both orally and in writing; to be able to author and comprehend written reports, to be able to prepare design and implementation reports, to present effectively, to be able to give and receive clear and comprehensible instructions.
8

To have knowledge about global and social impact of engineering practices on health, environment, and safety; to have knowledge about contemporary issues as they pertain to engineering; to be aware of the legal ramifications of engineering solutions.
9

To be aware of ethical behavior, professional and ethical responsibility; to have knowledge about standards utilized in engineering applications.
10

To have knowledge about industrial practices such as project management, risk management, and change management; to have awareness of entrepreneurship and innovation; to have knowledge about sustainable development.
11

To be able to collect data in the area of Civil Engineering, and to be able to communicate with colleagues in a foreign language;
12

To be able to speak a second foreign language at a medium level of fluency efficiently.
13

To recognize the need for lifelong learning; to be able to access information, to be able to stay current with developments in science and technology; to be able to relate the knowledge accumulated throughout the human history to Civil Engineering.

*1 Lowest, 2 Low, 3 Average, 4 High, 5 Highest