MVZn5078 Human Rights in Post-Conflict Societies

Faculty of Social Studies
Autumn 2024
Extent and Intensity
1/1/0. 5 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
In-person direct teaching
Teacher(s)
doc. Mgr. Vladimir Dordevic, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
prof. PhDr. Zdeněk Kříž, Ph.D.
Department of International Relations and European Studies – Faculty of Social Studies
Contact Person: Olga Cídlová, DiS.
Supplier department: Department of International Relations and European Studies – Faculty of Social Studies
Timetable
Mon 21. 10. Mon 18:00–19:40 U42, Mon 18:00–19:40 P52, except Mon 21. 10.
Prerequisites
! MVZ478 Human Rights in Post-Conflict && !NOW( MVZ478 Human Rights in Post-Conflict )
This course provides students with comprehensive information on the post-conflict transformation via the perspective of human rights (HRs) in the Western Balkans (former Yugoslavia), Haiti, East Timor, Rwanda, and Sri Lanka. The course introduces students to basic tenets of HRs in both theory and history, allowing for the cases above to be adequately examined regarding HR abuses, the international community’s (non)intervention and its influence, and the more contemporary post-conflict developments and current HRs conditions. Since these cases represent post-conflict areas differing in degrees of success of post-conflict transformation, with three of them also having experienced some form of international intervention, it is essential to examine them by addressing their peculiarities. In a nutshell, the course instructs into: 1- The fundamental tenets of HRs, with introduction into contemporary international and domestic procedures and devices for promoting and protecting HRs, 2- The major HRs abuses taking place in the conflicts at hand, 3- The issues tied to the impact of the international community through (non)intervention and its relation to HRs, particularly regarding the role of national governments, international organizations, and (international) NGOs, and 4- The post-conflict transformation and transition, whereby dealing with the past, reconciliation efforts, truth initiatives, achieving justice in the societies in question, and, finally, the current state of HRs loom large.
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is only offered to the students of the study fields the course is directly associated with.

The capacity limit for the course is 35 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 25/35, only registered: 0/35
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
The students attending the course will learn about HRs in post-conflict societies undergoing overall societal transformation. In that respect, they will be instructed into (1) the central tenets of HRs in theory and history, with information on contemporary international and domestic mechanisms and devices for promoting and protecting HRs, (2) the major HRs abuses that characterized the conflicts examined, (3) the impact of the international (non)intervention on HRs, whereby the role of national governments, international organizations, and (international) NGOs are additionally tackled, (4) and, finally, the post-conflict transition, whereby dealing with the past, reconciliation and truth initiatives, justice, and the current state of HRs are also addressed. Hence, the course is designed to not only allow the students to gain fundamental insight into the theory and history of HRs (theoretical framework), but also to provide them with information on problems related to HRs abuses during and after the conflicts, international (non)intervention issues, as well as the post-conflict transition seen through the prism of HRs (practical approach, case-study framework).
Learning outcomes
The students attending the course will learn about HRs in post-conflict societies undergoing overall societal transformation.
Syllabus
  • Workload: *Presentations and course activity *Readings (approx. 39 pages per week) and lectures (discussions) Program: 1- Introduction (general info on the course) 2- Human Rights in Theory I Required readings: Donnelly, Jack. 2013. Universal Human Rights in Theory and Practice. Ithaca: Cornell University Press, pp. 7-40. 3- Human Rights in Theory II Required readings: Donnelly, Jack. 2013. Universal Human Rights in Theory and Practice. Ithaca: Cornell University Press, pp. 40-71. 4- Human Rights in History Required readings: Donnelly, Jack. 2013. Universal Human Rights in Theory and Practice. Ithaca: Cornell University Press, pp. 75-93. 5- Human Rights in Contemporary Practice I Required readings: Donnelly, Jack, and Daniel J. Whelan 2017. International Human Rights. London and New York: Routledge, pp. 3-17, 21-36, and 39-54. *please pay attention to the questions at the end of each chapter 6- Human Rights in Contemporary Practice II Required readings: Donnelly, Jack, and Daniel J. Whelan 2017. International Human Rights. London and New York: Routledge, pp. 57-70, 75-92, 95-104, and 110-120. *please pay attention to the questions at the end of each chapter 7- Human Rights in Post-Conflict Societies I: The Western Balkans Required readings: Visoka, Gëzim, and Elvin Gjevori. 2013. “Census Politics and Ethnicity in the Western Balkans.” East European Politics 29 (4): 479–98. Harris, Erika, and Hannes Baumann. 2019. “Identity and War: Comparisons and Connections between the Balkans and the Middle East.” East European Politics 35 (4): 401–14. David, Lea. 2019. “Historical Narratives as Foundations for Ethnicized Identities: ‘Facing the Past’ Encounters in the Western Balkans and in Israel/Palestine.” East European Politics 35 (4): 415–32. Background info: BBC documentary ‘The Death of Yugoslavia’ is available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tj9Zw5fN3rE&list=PLdw7wnKe0wiUSNdugFGpnSfm6wt-9gvUt (Please follow all six links for the complete documentary!) 8- Human Rights in Post-Conflict Societies II: Haiti Required readings: Horton, Lynn. 2012. “After the Earthquake: Gender Inequality and Transformation in Post-Disaster Haiti.” Gender & Development 20 (2): 295–308. Freedom in the World 2024. Haiti, pp. 1-18. Background info: Prof. James Ker-Lindsay’s YouTube video at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xg2YoX1xgi8 9- Human Rights in Post-Conflict Societies III: East Timor Required readings: Cohen, David, and Leigh-Ashley Lipscomb. 2012. “When More May Be Less: Transitional Justice In East Timor.” Nomos 51: 257–305. Background info: Prof. James Ker-Lindsay’s YouTube video at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zo752UfVwYk 10- Human Rights in Post-Conflict Societies IV: Rwanda Required readings: Melvin, Jennifer. 2010. “Reconstructing Rwanda: Balancing Human Rights and the Promotion of National Reconciliation.” The International Journal of Human Rights 14 (6): 932–51. Hebert, Laura A. 2015. “‘Women Run the Show’?: Gender Violence Reform and the ‘Stretching’ of Human Rights in Rwanda.” Journal of Human Rights 14 (1): 23–40. Background info: PBS documentary ‘Ghosts of Rwanda’ is available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4kYCmc6xbzI 11- Human Rights in Post-Conflict Societies V: Sri Lanka Required readings: Deane, Tameshnie. 2016. “Historical and Political Background to the Erosion of the Rule of Law and Human Rights During Sri Lanka’s Civil War and the Way Forward.” Small Wars & Insurgencies 27 (6): 971–95. Höglund, Kristine. 2019. “Testimony Under Threat: Women’s Voices and the Pursuit of Justice in Post-War Sri Lanka,” Human Rights Review 20: 361–382. Background info: Human Rights Watch YouTube video at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DFHip1izblo 12- Course wrap-up: Concluding remarks (1/2) and Final (online) exam (2/2)
Literature
    required literature
  • Donnelly, Jack. 2013. Universal Human Rights in Theory and Practice. Ithaca: Cornell University Press.
Teaching methods
Course Requirements: 1) The students are expected to attend lectures (in the online form also), and those who have attended at least 60% of these (7 lectures) will be allowed to sit the final exam. The students shall sign the attendance form each time they come to the class. 2) The students are invited to contribute actively to in-class discussions if they wish to do so. Their active participation is recommended but optional. Those actively contributing by discussing the cases at hand shall be granted additional points at the end of the course (exactly a week before the final exam). The class activity is recommended, especially if one is to achieve a grade higher than ‘B.’ 3) The students are expected to read all required readings, and it will be assumed that they have read them (approximately 41 pages per week). The background information is listed as an additional source of information on the topics at hand. Thus, the students are advised to address this information to understand the issues discussed in the course. The first and the last seminars have no assigned readings. 4) The students are required to contribute to the class by applying for presentation groups and working with their peers towards a common goal. There will be 5 presentation groups (6 students max) on topics 7-11, respectively, that the students need to apply via the IS (use the ‘Topic lists’ option in your IS after logging into the system and choosing this course, then choose the group you are interested in). The presentations are about 25-30 minutes long; they are compulsory for all students and shall be uploaded into the Student Presentations folder in the IS before taking place. The students will have applied in the IS for the topics of their choice and the presentation groups by October 7, with no possibility of changing the group later. It is only possible to pass the course by registering for and participating in the presentation groups, and one shall receive an immediate failing grade if they do not abide by this rule. 5) Each presentation is to have the following structure (with points deducted if the structure/content is not respected; each of the sections below is worth 4 points) a) Introduction/background of the problem/issue at hand, b) Relevance, c) Specificity, d) Main feats of the problem concerning its influence on domestic and/or international politics (HRs perspective), e) Future (domestic) developments and possible solutions (institutional framework). f) Sources used (academic literature of at least 70%). 6) The final online exam (40min long) shall be taken by all students at the end of the course, and if one chooses not to take the exam, they shall fail the course.
Assessment methods
Grading: The final grade will be calculated as a composite evaluation of three elements: a) Presentation>> 24 points max (6 sections each worth 4 points max), b) Activity points>> students active on or more than 8 lectures= 11 points, students active on 4-7 lectures= 8 points, those active on less than 2-3 lectures= 4 points, with those active on less than 2 lectures getting 0 points, c) Final exam>> 3 open-type questions, 24 points max. *Grades: A> 50 or more B> 44 – 49 C> 37– 43 D> 31 – 36 E> 25 – 30 F> 24 points or less
Náhradní absolvování
This course cannot be attended while studying abroad and not being present at FSS MU.
Language of instruction
English
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
Study Materials
The course is taught annually.
Teacher's information
https://is.muni.cz/auth/person/268162
The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2019, Autumn 2020, Autumn 2021, Autumn 2022, Autumn 2023.
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