KDEC 9680 - Globalizing Rights

This course explores the evolution of human rights law and the ways in which it has been shaped by—and, in turn, influences—the broader forces of globalization in an interdependent world. It considers how the movement of goods, people, and norms across borders has transformed our understanding of state sovereignty under international law and the rights of persons within them, while also creating distinctive challenges that require international regulation with far-reaching consequences. Wider debates about globalization and the historical trajectories of rights will be addressed through case studies on slavery and human trafficking, humanitarian law and international criminal justice, torture and the ‘war on terror’, labour exploitation and transnational corporate responsibility, refugee protection and border control, pandemics and international health rights, and poverty and economic and social rights.

Instruction is through lectures, interactive discussions, applied class exercises and group presentations. The teaching methodology presumes that enrolled students will not have any background in human rights law. As students will be expected to acquire skills associated with working with primary international legal source material in human rights law, guidance on how to approach reading assigned international instruments and caselaw will be provided continuously throughout the course.

In-Class Mid-Term 25%

1 hour ;

Group Presentation 20%

Final Examination

2 hours 55%

Students will be assigned to groups that will present human rights case studies related to a range of topics designated in the syllabus from Session 5 onwards. Case study analyses will include both an engagement with legal framework(s) and a consideration of the implications of relevant processes of globalization-(i.e. economic, political, social/cultural, technical, etc)