Human Rights and Contemporary Concepts
This course will explore historic and contemporary events and the role they play in the development of the contemporary human rights system. We will study human rights in relation to genocide, armed conflict, globalization, politics, resistance movements, and twenty-first century challenges. The course will conclude with discussions about the necessity of human rights for a more peaceful, just, and safer world. Readings will be provided to students by email by the instructor.
Instructor
Tim Beyak teaches Social Studies, Canadian History, and Global Issues at a high school in Winnipeg. He is currently pursuing a Master's Degree in Education at the University of Manitoba.
Read the testimonials of our students
Instructor
Tim Beyak teaches Social Studies, Canadian History, and Global Issues at a high school in Winnipeg. He is currently pursuing a Master's Degree in Education at the University of Manitoba.
Read the testimonials of our students
Syllabus
Introduction: Defining Human Rights, Concepts, and Practices
What are human rights?
- What are the origins of human rights?
- Key principles and documents
Institutionalizing human rights
Human Rights and Armed Conflict
- 20th Century Conflicts
- Collapse of Imperial Europe
- Principle of Self-Determination
- 21st Century Concerns
The Shoah, War Crimes, Crimes Against Humanity, and Genocide
- The Nuremberg Trials
- The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 1948
- Genocide Convention, 1948
Refugee Convention, 1951
Human Rights and Globalization
Rights in the era of globalization
- Human rights and the Middle East
- Sexual violence and human trafficking
- The West and non-Wests
Human rights and the digital age
Human Rights and the Question of Politics
- Human rights and identity politics
- Human rights and tribalism
- Political challenges to human rights
Human Rights and Societal Movements
- What is the relationship between human rights and social movements?
- How are human rights and youth movements connected?
- What happens when human rights are denied?
- What happens if a movement challenges the validity of human rights?
Human Rights and the 21st Century
Post-9/11 security and human rights
- Promoting human rights in the 21st century
- Human rights in the information age
- Challenges to universal human rights