Comparative politics of human rights

Primerjalne politike človekovih pravic

Course credits:

6.00 ECTS / 60 (30 hours of lectures, 0 hours of exercises, 30 hours of seminars, 0 hours other forms of work)

Course holder:

prof. dr. Tomaž Deželan

Type:

Required

Language:

Slovenian

Semester:

First semester

Study degree

2. level

Course execution:

• Postgraduate Programme of Political Science – Comparative Public Policies and Administration

Prerequisits:

Students are allowed to participate in the course provided that they have completed the enrolment procedure. It is recommended that students have some prior basic knowledge from political sciences courses. Condition to approach a written exam is positive grade of a seminar work and its presentation/defence.

Objectives and competences

The main objective of the course is to give students an understanding of the complexities of modern society as is seen through the complex relations between political and human rights contents in a comparative perspective. Thus, they are be skilled in understanding and independent analysis of different roles of political (politics-policy-polity) and political actors in their care to respect and safeguard human democracies in democracies. Students will become familiar with and able to understand complex contents and process between political and human rights. Due to preparation of a seminar work students will acquire analytical competences as well as critical thinking and research skills together with an ability to use different research methods and techniques. Due to an obligation to write a seminar work students will acquire written communication competences and due to an obligation to oral presentation/defence of a seminar work also oral communication competences.

Content (Syllabus outline)

The course is focused on several broader topics of human rights and obligations in relation to various political perspectives (e.g. politics-policy-polity); contents of rights and major systems of differentiation of rights in comparative perspective over time, by subjects and by international comparative criteria. In the first part of the course a historical evolution of natural or human rights over time is emphasised, as understood in European thought (Christianity, liberalism and socialism). Second part addresses various subjects of human rights, from general personal, to citizen and political, as well as economic, social, cultural, environmental rights. In the third part of the main emphasis is given to the international comparative research, including methodology and case studies analysis. This course addresses also the issues of ideological and cultural relativism in relation to human rights and exposes their critical components in nation state democracies and international community.

Intended learning outcomes:

Students understand, define, describe, identify, label, present gained knowledge, concepts, theories, processes, relations. The can classify, discuss, interpret, analyse, explain, appraise, compare, generate, solve and apply the knowledge also on concrete case studies form practical everyday life. They are skilled in synthesising and critical evaluation of gained knowledge.

Learning and teaching methods:

- Lectures - Seminars - Individual and group consultations with professor - Public speaking and presentation/defence of a seminar paper - e-learning

Assessment

50 % Written exam 50 % Seminar work and its presentation/defence

Obligatory literature

Additional literature