HUMR4501 – Ethnic Challenges to the Nation State: Studying State Responses from a Human Rights Perspective
Schedule, syllabus and examination date
Course content
This course addresses challenges faced by States with cultural/ethnic heterogeneous populations within their borders. With a multi-disciplinary and case-oriented approach, it will consider the state’s theoretical, political, and legal responses to these challenges. The course will offer comparative perspectives on the development of legal and political orders in nations-states and regional entities in response to the standards of the international human rights system. You will address the particular situation in States, such as China (PRC), Ethiopia, Indonesia, Norway, and the Palestine. You will survey issues such as democratic theories, ethnicity, devolution, autonomy, self-determination, indigenous rights, minority rights, and non-discrimination. You will see the existence of tensions between group and individual rights and between different rights, and even that a “rights – based approach” has limitations.
Learning outcome
You will be expected to analyze individual situations (case studies) with the ability to offer creative solutions. This course is an application of international human rights law that enables you to understand the difficulties of creating state policy. You are expected to have a good understanding of the following (based on assigned literature) in relation to the presented case studies:
- Collective rights in international human rights law
- Challenges for their implementation at the national level
- The formation of group identity
- Problems and tensions in guaranteeing the implementation of individual rights while considering group claims.
Admission
Students who are admitted to study programmes at UiO must each semester register which courses and exams they wish to sign up for in Studentweb.
If you are not already enrolled as a student at UiO, please see our information about admission requirements and procedures.
Admission is limited to students studying at the Master's Degree level. Priority is given to students on the Master of Philosophy programme in the Theory and Practice of Human Rights.
Prerequisites
Recommended previous knowledge
Students with no background in human rights studies are strongly advised to prepare in advance the recommended readings.
Teaching
Lectures and seminars with active student participation.
Examination
6-hour written exam, grades A-F (F=fail) .