STV2235 ¨C Conflict and Human Rights in International Politics

Course content

Violent conflict and the systematic (often violent) violation of human rights remain a pervasive feature of international politics. Yet the forms in which political violence occurs and the international responses to- and causes of it vary widely. What types of political violence exist, how do they interact with the international system, and what are their causes? Furthermore, what characterizes different international responses to these human rights violations? How effective are they? In this class, we address the different major types of political violence and human rights violations, their international dimensions, and international responses to it.

In the course, you will become familiar with the wide spectrum of different political violence and human rights violations that exist in international politics today. Examples include civil wars, interstate wars, repression, gender & violence, and colonial violence. You will learn about the causes and legacies of these human rights violations, and about the differences and similarities between them. In particular, we will discuss the international dimensions of these forms of violations and how they shape and are shaped by the international system and important actors in international politics. Finally, we will look into the measures that the international community has designed to counter these violations, such as the international human rights regime, the United Nations, and peacekeeping missions. We will discuss how these institutions work and how effective they are in responding to and reducing the prevalence of conflict in international relations.

Learning outcome

Knowledge

After having completed the course, students will:

• know which different types of political violence and human rights violations exist and how they are studied in International Relations
• be familiar with ethical and empirical challenges in studying political violence and how existing research addresses these problems
• know about the international, cross-border dimensions of these phenomena.
• understand the theoretical explanations for causes of human rights violations, as well as for their consequences.
• understand how the international community¡¯s different responses to human rights violations work, such as the United Nations or the international human rights regime and understand the effectiveness of these responses
• know about the main datasets on conflict and human rights violations and how they are used in the literature
• be familiar with different methodological and theoretical approaches to studying human rights and political violence in international relations

Skills

Having completed the course, students will:

• be able to understand and synthesize arguments and evidence in a systematic way, and communicate this to different audiences.
• have practical skills in conducting systematic searches for literature and data.
• have skills in distinguishing between theoretical models, and actual cases, and be able to use theoretical concepts and insights to understand particular cases.
• Have practical skills in analyzing a case using different theoretical perspectives
• have skills in analyzing how different research conclusions depend on different data sources and measurement choices.
• have skills to distinguish between analysis of conflict and human rights that is grounded in existing research and those that are not.
• have practical skills in reviewing studies and performing literature summaries.
• have practical skills in providing constructive feedback.

General competences

Having completed the course, students will:

• Critically evaluate arguments in international relations, pertaining to political violence and human rights
• distinguish between theory and empirical patterns with relevance to theory
• analyze and critically evaluate arguments empirically and theoretically
• distinguish between empirical, conceptual and theoretical statements
• investigate social science question using the scientific method
• distinguish between conclusions that are based on specific cases, and those that are based on more general comparisons.

Admission to the course

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.

This course is not available for single course students.

Recommended previous knowledge

STV1200 ¨C Internasjonal politikk

Teaching

Lectures and seminars

Compulsory activities

• Attend the first seminar and minimum two of the following four seminars

• Seminar portfolio

The seminar portfolio consists of:

1. A summary paper?

2. Submitting discussion questions

3. A short, final term paper?

All three elements will be assessed pass/fail by the seminar leaders & meet the formal requirements for submission of a term paper.

The seminars are taught in English, and the papers handed in must be written in English.

See the seminar guidelines for more information about the seminars.

See the faculty`s rules for reassignment of seminar groups and requirements for compulsory activities.

Absence from compulsory activities

If you are ill or have another valid reason for being absent from compulsory activities, your absence may be approved or the compulsory activity may be postponed.

• Report absence from or the need for a postponed deadline on a compulsory activity

Access to teaching

A student who has completed compulsory instruction and coursework and has had these approved, is not entitled to repeat that instruction and coursework, and does not have to in order to retake the exam. A student who has been admitted to a course, but who has not completed compulsory instruction and coursework or had these approved, is entitled to repeat that instruction and coursework, depending on available capacity.

Examination

4 hour school exam

You must have passed the compulsory activities in the seminar in order to sit the exam.?

Examination support material

Students may use dictionaries at this exam. Dictionaries must be handed in before the examination. Please read regulations for dictionaries permitted at the examination.

Resit an examination

• Illness at exams / postponed exams
• Resitting an examination

More about examinations at UiO

• Use of sources and citations
• Special exam arrangements due to individual needs
• Withdrawal from an exam
• Illness at exams / postponed exams
• Explanation of grades and appeals
• Resitting an exam
• Cheating/attempted cheating

You will find further guides and resources at the web page on examinations at UiO.