HUMN 3051 Human Rights and Culture

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Credit Points 10

Legacy Code 101988

Coordinator Di Dickenson Opens in new window

Description This unit examines the cultural consequences of the rise of the global human rights regime. It introduces debates about cultural relativism and universal human rights and explores a number of areas of contemporary conflict between cultural practices and human rights norms. It also examines the role of human rights NGOs in creating a new global human rights culture, and asks what it means to be a subject of human rights.

School Humanities & Comm Arts

Discipline Studies In Human Society

Student Contribution Band HECS Band 4 10cp

Check your HECS Band contribution amount via the Fees page.

Level Undergraduate Level 3 subject

Restrictions Successful completion of 60 credit points of study in currently enrolled program.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this subject, students should be able to:
  1. Demonstrate an understanding of the history of the global human rights regime.
  2. Engage in reasoned debate about human rights universalism and cultural relativism.
  3. Analyse contemporary tensions between respecting cultural diversity and compliance with human rights norms.
  4. Critically reflect on the relation between human rights and neoliberal capitalism.
  5. Demonstrate an understanding of the role of NGOs in shaping a global human rights culture.
  6. Display effective research skills and analytical processes in investigating the cultural issues raised by the rise of the global human rights regime.

Subject Content

- WWII and The drafting of The Universal Declaration of human rights
- The rise of The human rights NGOs (Amnesty international, human rights Watch)
- theoretical debates about Universal human rights and cultural relativism
- Controversies about human rights and culture: private property rights and communal cultures; the 'Asian values debate'; individual rights and indigenous cultures; women's rights and gendered violence
- human rights, The nation-state and self-determination
- 'Humanitarian intervention' and the militarisation of human rights
- The relation between The human rights regime and The emergence of neoliberal capitalism
- human rights and subjectivity: what does It mean to be A subject of human rights?

Teaching Periods

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