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Malmö University
Course syllabus autumn 2021
Course syllabus autumn 2021
Title
Human Rights I
Swedish title
Mänskliga rättigheter I
Course code
MR110L
Credits
30 credits
Grading scale
UA / Excellent (A), Very Good (B), Good (C), Satisfactory (D), Pass (E) or Fail (U)
Language of instruction
English
Decision-making body
Faculty of Culture and Society
Syllabus approval date
2021-06-16
Syllabus valid from
2021-08-30
Entry requirements
General entry requirements (with the exemption of Swedish language) + English B.
Merit rating is calculated based on Swedish upper secondary grades achieved, according to specific entry requirement 6/A6.
Level
Basic level
Main field
Human Rights
Progression level
G1N
Progression level in relation to degree requirements
The course is part of the main field of study Human Rights at the 1-30 credit level and meets the degree requirements for the degree of Bachelor, main field of study Human Rights.
Course objectives
The aim of the course is that the students will acquire basic knowledge in the subject area of human rights from a multidisciplinary perspective.
Course contents
The course contains the following modules:
Law and Human Rights (10 credits)
This module comprises studies of Public International Law and Human Rights Law.
Politics and Human Rights (10 credits)
This module comprises studies of human rights in relation to the concept of state, and with regard to political power and democratic processes.
Philosophy, Religion and Human Rights (10 credits)
This module comprises studies of philosophical and ethical theories and discussions regarding human rights.
Learning outcomes
Law and Human Rights
After completing the module, the student will:
  1. be able to demonstrate knowledge of the structure of international law and account for the relationship between international and national law;
  2. be able to demonstrate knowledge of the UN legal framework for human rights and regional systems of human rights;
  3. be able to demonstrate knowledge of key concepts and principles of international law and substantive human rights; and
  4. be able to demonstrate an ability to identify key legal issues and to apply international law and human rights law in different cases and situations; and
  5. be able to demonstrate an ability to legally analyse cases and judicial decisions relating to international law and human rights.
Politics and Human Right
After completing the module, the student will
  1. be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the role of states in the realisation of human rights
  2. be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of theories of the state and international relations
  3. be able demonstrate knowledge of the role of society in the realisation of human rights
  4. be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of theories of society
  5. be able to demonstrate an ability to analyse, interpret the development of and critically reflect over theories of the state and international relations as well as theories of society and their importance for the analysis of human rights
  6. be able to use basic academic formalities and academic language
Philosophy, Religion and Human Rights
After completing the module, the student will
  1. be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the philosophical background to the idea of human rights as well as to key human rights issues
  2. be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the view of human rights in the different world religions and of the current debate on freedom of religion
  3. be able to analyse and critically reflect on philosophical and religious aspects concerning the background to and development of the present-day human rights regime.
  4. be able to use basic academic formalities and academic language
Learning activities
The course is designed for full-time study. The teaching is mainly in the form of lectures and seminars. The majority of the teaching activities consists of independent study.
Students are responsible for keeping up with the reading and for coming prepared to each class. Students are presumed to pursue their own study groups.
Teaching in modules 1-3 is mainly lectures and seminars.
Assessment
Law and Human Rights (10hp)
The students’ performance in the module is assessed by means of a formal exam (10 hp).
Learning outcomes 1-5 are assessed by a formal exam.
Politics and Human Rights (10hp)
The students’ performance in the module is assessed by individual written assignments.
Learning outcomes 1-6 are assessed by an individual home exam (6 hp)
Learning outcomes 1-6 are assessed by an individual written assignment (4 hp)
Philosophy, Religion and Human Rights (10hp)
The students’ performance in the module is assessed by means of a formal exam and an individual written assignment.
Learning outcomes 1, 2 and 3 are assessed by a formal exam (7,5hp)
Learning outcomes 1-4 are assessed by an individual written assignment (2,5hp)
Course literature and other study material
Law and Human Rights
  • Klabbers, Jan (2017), International law. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2nd ed.
  • Smith, Rhona (2019), Textbook on International Human Rights. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 9th ed.
  • Instruments in Public International Law (follow teacher's instructions)
There may be additional reading such as judicial decisions and articles – see course guide.
Politics and Human Rights
  • Arts, Wil & John Gelissen (2002) “Three Worlds of Welfare Capitalism or More? A State-of-the-Art Report”. Journal of European Social Policy, vol. 12, no. 2: 137-158.
  • Booth Walling, Carrie (2015) “Human Rights Norms, State Sovereignty, and Humanitarian Intervention”. Human Rights Quarterly, 37(2): 383-413.
  • Cristi Marcela (2012) “Durkheim on Moral Individualism, Social Justice, and Rights: A Gendered Construction of Rights” Canadian Journal of Sociology/Cahiers canadiens de sociologie 37(4): 409-438.
  • Joas, Hans (2006) “Max Weber and the Origin of Human Rights: A Study on Cultural Innovation”. Free University (FU) of Berlin and the University of Chicago.
  • Jones, Pip, Liz Bradbury & Shaun LeBoutillier (2018) Introducing Social Theory, 3rd Edition. Polity Press.
  • Kolakowski, Leszek (1983)”Marxism and Human Rights” Daedalus, Vol. 112, No. 4: 81-92.
  • Lapidus, John (2017) “Private health insurance in Sweden: Fast track lanes and the alleged attempts to stop them”. Health Policy, no 121: 442-449.
  • Mamdani, Mahmood (2001) “Beyond Settler and Native as Political Identities: Overcoming the Political Legacy of Colonialism”. Comparative Studies in Society and History 43(4): 651-664.
  • Melling, Graham (2018) “Beyond rethoric? Evaluating the Responsibility to Protect as a norm of humanitarian intervention”. Journal on the Use of Force and International Law, vol. 5, no. 1: 78-96.
  • Markoff, John (1999) “Where and When Was Democracy Invented?” Comparative Studies in Society and History, vol. 41, no. 4: 660-690.
  • Pierson, Christopher (2012) The Modern State. Routledge, 3rd edition (or other editions).
  • Schmitt, Carina, Hanna Lierse & Herbert Obinger (2015) “The Global Emergence of Social Protection: Explaining Social Security Legislation 1820-2013”. Politics & Society, vol. 43, no. 4: 503-524.
  • Steinmetz, George (2014) “The Sociology of Empires, Colonies, and Postcolonialism”. Annual Review of Sociology, vol 40: 77-103.
  • Wiborg, Susanne (2013) ”Neo-liberalism and universal state education: the cases of Denmark, Norway and Sweden 1980-2011” Comparative Education, vol. 49: no 4: 407-423.
Additional Reading:
  • Young, Robert (2020) Postcolonialism: A Very Short Introduction. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2nd ed
There may be additional articles, approximately 100 pages – see lecture presentations.
Philosophy, Religion and Human Rights
  • Hayden, Patrick (2001) The Philosophy of Human Rights (St Paul: Paragon House)
  • Kymlicka, Will (latest edition) Contemporary Political Philosophy: An Introduction (Oxford: Oxford University Press)
  • Nickel, James (latest edition) Making Sense of Human Rights, Malden, MA: Blackwell.
  • Nussbaum, Martha (2002) “Capabilities and Social Justice”, International Studies Review, Vol. 4, No. 2, pp. 123-135.
  • Roald, Anne Sofie (2010):” Multiculturalism and religious legislation in Sweden” in M Haydeh Moghissi och Halleh Ghorashi (Eds.), Muslim Diaspora in the West. Negotiating Gender, Home and Belonging, Surrey and Burlington: Ashgate, pp. 55-72 (can be accessed as e-book on the website of Malmö University Library) .
  • Sooryamoorthy, Radhamany (2008): "Untouchability in Modern India", International Sociology, Vol. 23, No. 2, pp. 283-293.
  • Witte, John, Jr., Alexander, Frank S. (latest edition), Christianity and Human Rights. An Introduction, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press (in selection, approx. 70 p.) (can be accessed as e-book on the website of Malmö University Library).
  • Witte, John, Jr, Green, Christian (latest edition), Religion and Human Rights. An Introduction, (Oxford Univ. Press.)
There may be additional articles of 300 pages max – see lecture presentations.
Course evaluation
The University provides students who participate in or who have completed a course with the opportunity to make known their experiences and viewpoints with regards to the course by completing a course evaluation administered by the University. The University will compile and summarize the results of course evaluations as well as informing participants of the results and any decisions relating to measures initiated in response to the course evaluations. The results will be made available to the students (HF 1:14).
Interim rules
If a course is no longer offered or has undergone major changes, students will be offered two re-take sessions based on the syllabus in force at registration during a period of one year from the date of the implementation of the changes.
Additional information
Language of instruction is English