Last modified: 22 Jul 2026 13:42
In an increasingly interconnected world, there is hardly an issue that has not been framed as a human right issue. Human Rights have shaped global politics and global politics have shaped human rights. This course explores the theory and the practice of human rights with an emphasis on the global human rights regime along with the key controversies around the promotion, protection, and violation of human rights. This course is suitable for specialist and non-specialist alike. No prior knowledge is required.
| Study Type | Postgraduate | Level | 5 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Term | First Term | Credit Points | 30 credits (15 ECTS credits) |
| Campus | Aberdeen | Sustained Study | No |
| Co-ordinators |
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Key approaches, concepts and practices surrounding human rights and global politics are explored through case studies of promotion, protection, and violation of human rights. Controversial issues such as the question of who the human in human rights is, the claims of universalism, their measurement challenge, the role of states and non-state actors in formulating and enforcing the human rights agenda, the case of humanitarian intervention, and their role in preventing mass atrocities are considered. This course provides students with an overview of theory and practice of human rights and global politics.
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | 40 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | Feedback Weeks | |||
| Feedback |
Feedback will normally be provided within a maximum of three working weeks after deadline of the assessment. |
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| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Conceptual | Apply | Employ the key theoretical approaches and concepts regarding human rights to analyse empirical cases regarding the promotion, protection and violation of human rights. |
| Conceptual | Evaluate | Critically evaluate the human rights policy and discourse employed by different actors. |
| Factual | Understand | Demonstrate an understanding of the key institutions and actors of the global human rights regime. |
| Procedural | Evaluate | Evaluate case studies in the practice of human rights in global politics. |
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | 60 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | 38 | Feedback Weeks | 41 | |
| Feedback |
Feedback will normally be provided within a maximum of three working weeks after deadline of the assessment. |
|||
| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Conceptual | Apply | Employ the key theoretical approaches and concepts regarding human rights to analyse empirical cases regarding the promotion, protection and violation of human rights. |
| Conceptual | Evaluate | Critically evaluate the human rights policy and discourse employed by different actors. |
| Factual | Understand | Demonstrate an understanding of the key institutions and actors of the global human rights regime. |
| Procedural | Evaluate | Evaluate case studies in the practice of human rights in global politics. |
There are no assessments for this course.
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | 100 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | Feedback Weeks | |||
| Feedback |
3,000-word resit essay worth 100% of the course grade. |
Word Count | 3000 | |
| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
|
|
||
| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Factual | Understand | Demonstrate an understanding of the key institutions and actors of the global human rights regime. |
| Conceptual | Apply | Employ the key theoretical approaches and concepts regarding human rights to analyse empirical cases regarding the promotion, protection and violation of human rights. |
| Procedural | Evaluate | Evaluate case studies in the practice of human rights in global politics. |
| Conceptual | Evaluate | Critically evaluate the human rights policy and discourse employed by different actors. |
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