COURSE UNIT TITLE

: INTERNATIONAL PROTECTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS

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

Level of Course Unit

First Cycle Programmes (Bachelor's Degree)

Course Coordinator

ASSISTANT PROFESSOR SEVILAY ZEHRA AKSOY

Offered to

International Relations

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   improve the necessary skills to make presentations in the classroom.
8   develop the skill to engage in discussions with the co-learners and as well as the lecturer.
9   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 The Idea of Human Rights
2 Human Rights in Western Political Thought: Classical and Contemporary
3 Human Rights and Cultural Relativism I
4 Human Rights and Cultural Relativism II
5 International Human Rights Regimes: the Global (UN) Human Rights Regime
6 International Human Rights Regimes: Regional Human Rights Regimes - Europe I
7 International Human Rights Regimes: Regional Human Rights Regimes - Europe II
8 International Human Rights Regimes: Regional Human Rights Regimes - Middle East in a Comparative Perspective
9 Human Rights and Foreign Policy - I
10 Human Rights and Foreign Policy - II
11 Democracy, Development, and Human Rights - I
12 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. Participation
3. Presentation

Assessment Methods

SORTING NUMBER SHORT CODE LONG CODE FORMULA
1 MTE MIDTERM EXAM
2 PRS PRESENTATION
3 PAR PARTICIPATION
4 FIN FINAL EXAM
5 FCG FINAL COURSE GRADE MTE*0.35+PRS*0.20+PAR*0.10+FIN*0.35
6 RST RESIT
7 FCGR FINAL COURSE GRADE(RESIT) MTE*0.35+PRS*0.20+PAR*0.10+RST*0.35


*** Resit Exam is Not Administered in Institutions Where Resit is not Applicable.

Further Notes About Assessment Methods

None

Assessment Criteria

1.the learner will explain the philosophical foundation of human rights.
2.the learner will explain the historical evolution of human rights in the Western thought and the related debate of universality versus cultural relativism.
3.the learner will identify the global and regional legal and political institutions desinged for the protection of international human rights norms.
4.the learner will identify different purposes of human rights-based foreign policies.
5. the learner will explain the linkage between the human rights, economic developmet and democracy.
6. the learner will use IT knoledge to prepare presentations.
7. the learner will be able to express views in a clear, precise and self-confident manner.
8. the learner will be able to make critical and reasoned argument.
9.the learner will 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 12 3 36
Preparation for final exam 1 20 20
Preparation for midterm exam 1 20 20
Preparations before/after weekly lectures 12 3 36
Preparing presentations 1 10 10
Midterm 1 2 2
Final 1 2 2
TOTAL WORKLOAD (hours) 126

Contribution of Learning Outcomes to Programme Outcomes

PO/LOPO.1PO.2PO.3PO.4PO.5PO.6PO.7PO.8PO.9PO.10PO.11PO.12PO.13
LO.15
LO.25
LO.35
LO.45
LO.55
LO.65
LO.75
LO.8
LO.9