HUMR4503 – Human Rights and Counter-Terrorism: Striking a Balance?
Course description
Schedule, syllabus and examination date
Course content
In order to combat terrorism, states and international organizations have adopted numerous policies and initiatives, especially since 11 September 2001. These counter-terrorism measures pose certain challenges to the international legal system. The course addresses the challenges to the international legal system that counter-terrorism measures entail. We provide an introduction to relevant topics of international law, but the course focuses on the accommodation of and limitations to counter-terrorism measures that international human rights, including universal and regional systems and international humanitarian law place on states.
The basic outline of the course is as follows:
I. Extraterritorial counter-terrorism and international law
- Use of force and self-defense
- Non-state actors in international law
- Humanitarian law
II. Domestic counter-terrorism and international human rights law
- Derogations and permissible limitations to rights
- The effects on the enjoyment of specific rights: Selected case studies
III. International counter-terrorism
- The United Nations
- The regional context of Europe
- The International Criminal Court
Learning outcome
This course will challenge you to draw the line of legality of counter-terrorism efforts. Yet, it asks you to understand the maxim stated by Blaise Pascal that “Justice without force is powerless; force without justice is tyrannical.” In other words, students should understand the necessity of counter-terrorism to human rights, but that unfettered counter-terrorism undermines human rights itself. Through the study of specific cases in the context of counter-terrorism, students will also understand that there is constantly a necessity to balance competing demands to uphold the principles of democracy and rule of law.
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 restricted to master’s-degree-level students at the University of Oslo, or an equivalent institution. Preference is given first to students enrolled in the Master of Philosophy Program at the Norwegian Centre for Human Rights, second to students enrolled in the Master of Laws program at the Institute of Public and International Law, third to any masters-degree-level student.
Prerequisites
Formal prerequisite knowledge
None
Recommended previous knowledge
An understanding of international law, the substance of individual human rights, and structures of major international organizations are recommended. This is an advanced course that builds upon these foundational elements.
Overlapping courses
None
Teaching
The course is conducted through lectures, student assignmentsand seminars with oral presentations by students.
Examination
6-hour written examination, graded A-F.
A course grade of A-F is calculated accordingly:
- 90% for examination
- 10% for seminar participation
Other
The course may eventually be given in spring 2007. Information will be given in autumn 2006.