Veidlapa Nr. M-3 (8)
Study Course Description
Human Rights: History, Legitimity, efficiency
Course Code
SZF_193
Branch of Science
Other social sciences
ECTS
3.00
Target Audience
Business Management; Communication Science; Information and Communication Science; Juridical Science; Management Science; Political Science; Social Anthropology
LQF
Level 7
Study Type And Form
Full-Time
Study Course Implementer
Course Supervisor
Nils Raimonds Muižnieks
Structure Unit Manager
Ieva Puzo
Structural Unit
Faculty of Social Sciences
Contacts
Dzirciema street 16, Rīga, szf@rsu.lv
About Study Course
Objective
The aim of this course is to provide an in-depth understanding of human rights development, their normative basis and their effectiveness in international politics. The course analyses the historical sources of human rights, regulatory development, legal legitimacy and mechanisms that ensure their implementation and protection at both national and international level. Particular attention is paid to international institutions, mechanisms for the prevention of human rights violations, as well as the current challenges in the implementation of human rights in modern international relations.
Preliminary Knowledge
In order to complete the course, the following prerequisites are recommended:
- Basic
- knowledge of international relations and their theoretical basics
- a general knowledge of the international legal order and its guiding principles
- a general understanding of the functioning of global and regional political institutions
Learning Outcomes
Knowledge
1.Students will know the history and development of the human rights system, the role of modern international and regional organisations in protecting human rights. Students will learn Latvia’s history through the prism of human rights.
2.Students will navigate the debate about the legitimacy of human rights and about key alternatives offered by major powers and others.
3.Students will also gain basic knowledge of today’s academic discussions about the effectiveness of the system and the difficulty of measuring it.
Skills
1.Students will be able to find and evaluate human rights information on various countries and topics, assess criticism of the legitimacy and effectiveness of the system, and participate in discussions on human rights in the world, Europe and Latvia.
Competences
1.Student competencies after taking the course will be critical thinking about human rights information from various sources, as well as the ability to analyse history and human rights aspects of modern international relations.
Assessment
Individual work
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Title
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% from total grade
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Grade
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|---|---|---|
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1.
Literature review and information analysis |
50.00% from total grade
|
10 points
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Students will have to develop seminar papers: for each seminar, according to the subject, read the required literature given, as well as other sources of information, and prepare a review and analysis of information. |
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Examination
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Title
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% from total grade
|
Grade
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|---|---|---|
|
1.
Final examinations |
50.00% from total grade
|
10 points
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There will be a written final test at the end of the course. |
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Study Course Theme Plan
FULL-TIME
Part 1
-
Lecture
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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On site
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Study room
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2
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Topics
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Introductory lecture. Structure and objectives of the course. Explanation of basic concepts.
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-
Lecture
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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On site
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Study room
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2
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Topics
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Human rights origins: The idea of human rights in philosophers’ texts and political documents, the origins of the system after World War I.
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-
Lecture
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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On site
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Study room
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2
|
Topics
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The establishment of the human rights system and the Cold War period: the international human rights charter and treaty system, reğionālās organisations, development during the Cold War.
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-
Class/Seminar
|
Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Study room
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2
|
Topics
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The UN human rights system today: Treaty structure (Treaty Bodies), special procedures, general periodic review, investigative mechanisms, etc.
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-
Class/Seminar
|
Modality
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Location
|
Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Study room
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2
|
Topics
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European Council: European Convention on Human Rights, Convention implementation mechanism, monitoring (monitoring) mechanisms, European Commissioner for Human Rights.
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-
Class/Seminar
|
Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Study room
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2
|
Topics
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Human rights in the European Union: human rights in the legal order of the European Union, EU the ağentūra of Fundamental Rights, the European Ombudsman, FRONTEX, the European Parliament, the Court of Justice of the EU.
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-
Lecture
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
|
On site
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Study room
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2
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Topics
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Social science theories about the functioning of the human rights system: spiral pattern, boomerang effect, necessary prerequisites, feedback, localisation.
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-
Lecture
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Study room
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2
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Topics
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How effective is the European system?: legal mechanisms, exclusion, social pressure.
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-
Class/Seminar
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
|
On site
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Study room
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2
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Topics
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Historical development of human rights in Latvia: human rights at the parliamentary stage (1918-1934), during the authoritarian regime period (1934-1940), during the German and Soviet occupation years, in restored Latvia until accession EU, an emphasis on minority rights.
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-
Class/Seminar
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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On site
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Study room
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2
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Topics
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Human rights challenges in modern Latvia.
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-
Lecture
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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On site
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Study room
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2
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Topics
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What are the main alternatives to the approach to human rights so far?: criticism of international human rights by the US (Trump admiinstrations) and China.
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-
Lecture
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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On site
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Study room
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2
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Topics
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What is the future of human rights?
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Total ECTS (Creditpoints):
3.00
Contact hours:
24 Academic Hours
Final Examination:
Exam (Written)
Bibliography
Required Reading
1.
Kathryn Sikkink, Evidence for Hope: Making Human Rights Work in the 21st Century (2017), 55.-93., 94.-138.lpp.Suitable for English stream
2.
Stephen Hopgood, Keepers of the Flame: Understanding Amnesty International (2006), 52.-72. lpp. (akcpetējams izdevums)Suitable for English stream
3.
United Nations Human Rights Office of the High Commisioner. Instruments & mechanisms.Suitable for English stream
4.
Grigory Dikov an Olga Chernishova, “The European Human Rights System,” GlobaLex, August 2023Suitable for English stream
5.
Nils Muižnieks, “‘Commissionating’: My Stint as Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights,” Unpublished, 2024Suitable for English stream
6.
European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights, Fundamental Rights Report 2024 (2024), 28.-41., 52.-70., 87.-106. lpp.Suitable for English stream
7.
Stephen Hopgood, Jack Snyder, and Leslie Vinjamuri, “Introduction: Human. Rights Past, Present and Future,” and Geoff Dancy and Kathryn Sikkink, “Human Rights Data, Processes and Outcomes,” krāj. Human Rights Futures (2017), 1.-59.,311.-330. lpp.Suitable for English stream
8.
Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, “Impact of the European Convention on Human Rights in States Parties: Selected Examples,” (2016)Suitable for English stream
9.
Nils Muižnieks, “The Council of Europe’s Response to Recent Democratic Backsliding,” European Yearbook of Human Rights, (2019), 3.-31. lpp.Suitable for English stream
10.
Nils Muižnieks un Ilze Brands Kehris, “The European Union, democratization and minorities in Latvia,” krāj. The European Union and Democratization, (2003), 30.-55.lpp. (akcpetējams izdevums)Suitable for English stream
11.
Report of the Commission on Unalienable Rights (2020).Suitable for English stream
12.
Tanner Larkin, “China’s Normfare and the Threat to Human Rights,” Columbia Law Review (2022).Suitable for English stream
13.
David Griffiths, “Barometer in Context: Strengthening the Human Rights System,” (2023).Suitable for English stream
14.
Ineta Ziemele, red., Cilvēktiesības pasaulē un Latvijā, Otrais paplidinātais izdevums (2021), 19.-28., 29.-34., 334.-385. lpp.
15.
Es gribu palīdzēt bēgļiem u.c., “Bīstamais ceļš: migrantu nāve pie Eiropas Savienības-Baltkrievijas robežas”, (2024).
16.
Latvijas Cilvēktiesību centrs, Cilvēktiesības Latvijā 2019-2023.