IREb1011 Human Rights, Democratization and Global Justice

Faculty of Social Studies
Spring 2025
Extent and Intensity
1/1/0. 8 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
JUDr. Ing. Jan Lhotský, Ph.D., E.MA (lecturer)
Mgr. et Mgr. Katarína Šipulová, Ph.D., MSt (lecturer)
Mgr. Lenka Martínková (seminar tutor)
Guaranteed by
JUDr. Ing. Jan Lhotský, Ph.D., E.MA
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
Prerequisites (in Czech)
! IRE108 Human Rights, Democratization && !NOW( IRE108 Human Rights, Democratization )
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is only offered to the students of the study fields the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
At the end of the course, students will be familiar with the basic concepts and both, theoretical and practical issues of human rights and democracy.
Learning outcomes
After passing the course, students will: (1) have basic knowledge of main issues of human rights and democracy, (2) be able to critically discuss main issues of human rights and democracy, (3) be able to apply general framework to specific issues of human rights and democracy
Syllabus
  • Human Rights (HR) cluster: (1) Intro + basic concepts, (2) Historical and philosophical sources of HR, (3) International HR Regimes, (4) European HR Regime, (5) Human Rights Debates, (6) Wrap-up presentations and discussion
  • Democracy cluster: (1) Democracy, (2) Non-democracy, (3) Constitutionalism and Democracy, (4) First Discussion Session: Constitutional Review
  • Interlinked topics: (1) Independence of Judiciary, (2) Freedom of the Media, Free Elections
Literature
    required literature
  • LHOTSKÝ, Jan. The (Missing) Right to a Healthy Environment in International Human Rights Law, especially the European Convention on Human Rights. In Pavel Šturma (ed.). Czech Yearbook of Public & Private International Law – Česká ročenka mezinárodního práva veřejného a soukromého. Vol. 12. Praha: Česká společnost pro mezinárodní právo, 2021, p. 246-255. ISBN 978-80-87488-42-3. URL info
  • FREEMAN, Michael. Human rights. Third edition. Cambridge: Polity, 2017, ix, 256. ISBN 9781509510283. info
  • DONNELLY, Jack. Universal human rights in theory and practice. 3rd ed. Ithaca: Cornell University Press, 2013, x, 320. ISBN 9780801477706. info
  • FORSYTHE, David P. Human rights in international relations. 3rd ed. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2012, xiv, 355. ISBN 9781107629844. info
  • HAERPFER, Christian W. Democratization. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2009, xxviii, 42. ISBN 9780199233021. info
  • DRYZEK, John S. and Patrick DUNLEAVY. Theories of the democratic state. Houndmills, Basingstoke, Hampshire: Palgrave Macmillan, 2009, xv, 375. ISBN 9780230542877. info
  • GRUGEL, Jean. Democratization : a critical introduction. 1st pub. Houndmills: Palgrave, 2002, xiii, 273. ISBN 0333679695. URL info
Teaching methods
Lectures, class discussions, group projects, e-tests, group debates.
Assessment methods
The course consists of lectures combined with seminars including class discussions. Students are expected to read all compulsory readings (articles or book chapters and cases) in advance in order to actively participate in class discussions.
In order to successfully pass the course, students must obtain at least 42 points out of total 70 points, and submit/participate in all assigned tasks.
The maximum number of points will consist of the following: (1) 5 e-tests (each max. 3 points, total max. 15 points), (2) Discussion Session (max. 15 points, 5 for discussion, 10 for background document), (3) Position Paper for the Wrap-up presentations and discussion (max. 15 points, 5 for presentations, 10 for position papers), and (4) Final Exam (max. 25 points)
“A” grade 65 – 70 points, “B” grade 64 – 59 points, “C” grade 53 – 58 points, “D” grade 47 – 52 points, “E” grade 42 – 46 points, “F” grade less than 42 points.
Language of instruction
English
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
The course is taught annually.
The course is taught: every week.
Information on course enrolment limitations: This course is not available for exchange students.
The course is also listed under the following terms Spring 2021, Spring 2022, Spring 2023, Spring 2024.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Spring 2025, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/fss/spring2025/IREb1011