Kurs

Human Rights and Democracy in Legal Perspective

General information

The course is a compulsory component of the M.A. Program in Human Rights and Democracy. It is also offered as a freestanding course.

Course description

The course provides an advanced introduction to the international law of human rights and how it relates to national legal systems, as well as to issues emerging from current global processes, such as climate change, migration, technology and economic integration. The course introduces the central sources of public international law and different modes of legal interpretations. The course further introduces different theoretical perspectives on the relationship between law, human rights and democracy, as well as on the role of legal institutions for democratic rule.

Learning Outcomes

On completion of the course, the student shall be able to

Knowledge and understanding

  • explain how the international and regional systems for human rights are designed and how they relate to legal systems at the national level, as well as to legal questions brought to light by the forces of globalization;
  • account for central theories and methods of legal interpretation, especially with regards to the relationship between human rights and democracy;
  • compare and critically examine different legal theoretical perspectives on the relationship between law, human rights and democracy, as well as to account for the role of legal institutions for democratic rule;

Competence and skills

  • identify, assemble and process relevant legal sources, as well as to analyze such sources in speech and in writing;
  • independently identify and present a legal problem within the human rights and democracy and to compose an adequate legal argument;
  • critically reflect on the merits of different legal-theoretical perspectives;
  • critically reflect on the different roles played by intergovernmental, governmental and non-governmental actors in realizing norms of human rights and democracy at different societal levels;

Judgement and approach

  • reflect critically and independently on central theories and concepts within the field of inquiry;
  • analyze and assess information using scientific criteria.

Reservation för revidering av litteraturen.

Bantekas, Ilias & Lutz Oette (2020, 3rd ed.) International Human Rights Law and Practice. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press (1018 sid).

Cameron, Iain (2018). An Introduction to the European Convention on Human Rights. Uppsala: Iustus förlag (251 pp.). ISBN: 978-917737-0017

Articles and working material:  ca 600 pp.

Schemat finns tillgängligt senast en månad innan kursen startar. Vi rekommenderar inte att du skriver ut schemat eftersom vissa ändringar kan ske.

Öppna schemat

Kursansvarig

Ulf Johansson Dahre

Fil. dr, docent

ulf.johansson-dahre@ehs.se

Betyg

A = Framstående, B = Mycket bra, C = Bra, D = Tillfredsställande, E = Tillräcklig, Fx = Otillräcklig, komplettering möjlig, F = Otillräcklig

Examinationsformer

  • PM
  • Salstentamen

The applicant must have a Bachelor’s degree in human rights studies or another related field in social or political science, law or the humanities. Students with undergraduate degrees in the natural sciences, engineering or medicine may also be admitted subject to their ability to demonstrate a proficiency in human rights, for instance through professional or voluntary work or activity.

If English is not the applicant’s native language, his or her language proficiency is to be demonstrated by e.g. IELTS test, TOEFL test, Cambridge/Oxford test, a Bachelor’s degree from a study programme taught entirely in English, or a passing grade in English 6/English B from Swedish upper secondary school.

Selection: Higher education credits

  • För fullgjord kurs krävs minst 80% närvaro vid föreläsningar och 100% närvaro vid seminarier/gruppövningar och andra tillfällen för redovisning. Frånvaro därutöver kan kompenseras genom kompletteringsuppgift (-er) om kursansvarig lärare bedömer det möjligt. Vid frånvaro om 50 % eller mer betraktas kursen som avbruten, även om examinationsuppgifter har genomförts.
  • Om student har ett beslut från EHS om särskilt pedagogiskt stöd på grund av funktionsnedsättning, skall examinator vid behov anpassa examinationen och genomföra examinationen på ett alternativt sätt.
  • Student har möjlighet att tentera kurs enligt ursprunglig kursplan inom två år efter kurstillfället. Om särskilda skäl föreligger kan sådan omtentamen ske även senare. Normalt ges inte undervisning enligt äldre kursplan. Möjligheten till dispens ska avgöras av rektor eller prefekt.

Fastställd av Kollegiet i Mänskliga rättigheter och demokrati vid Enskilda Högskolan Stockholm den 7 december 2020.