IR4532 The Cultural Politics of Human Rights

2025 to 2026 Semester 2

Curricular information may be subject to change

Further information on which modules are specific to your programme.

Key module information

SCOTCAT credits

The Scottish Credit Accumulation and Transfer (SCOTCAT) system allows credits gained in Scotland to be transferred between institutions. The number of credits associated with a module gives an indication of the amount of learning effort required by the learner. European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) credits are half the value of SCOTCAT credits.

SCQF level

SCQF level 10

The Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) provides an indication of the complexity of award qualifications and associated learning and operates on an ascending numeric scale from Levels 1-12 with SCQF Level 10 equating to a Scottish undergraduate Honours degree.

Availability restrictions

Not automatically available to General Degree students

Planned timetable

Mon 12 noon

This information is given as indicative. Timetable may change at short notice depending on room availability.

Module coordinator

Prof G S Sanghera

This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module Staff

Prof G Sanghera

This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module description

There are more people than ever before who believe strongly in the necessity of the inclusion of human rights considerations when thinking about actions at every level of societal interaction; personal, local, national and international. The use of the concept is, however, frequently misused and the outcome of rights campaigns is often far from the original intention. In exploring these complex issues the module is divided into two parts. In PART I the long-standing and polarising debate between liberal and Marxian theories regarding the role of the concept of human rights in society will be examined. Many theorists are now attempting to go beyond this divide to think through the potential for the concept in the process of social transformation. The social constructionist and neo-Gramscian approaches to the conceptualisation of human rights will be introduced. Drawing on this theoretical discussion a series of contemporary issues will be explored in PART II and the focus will be on suitability of the concept in any programme of social transformation by considering the role - nationally and internationally - of the legal system, economic relations, government and non-government organisations.

Relationship to other modules

Pre-requisites

BEFORE TAKING THIS MODULE YOU MUST PASS IR2006

Assessment pattern

3-hour Written Examination = 50%, Coursework = 50%

Re-assessment

3-hour Written Examination= 100%

Learning and teaching methods and delivery

Weekly contact

1 x 1-hour lecture (x 10 weeks), 1 x 1-hour tutorial (x 10 weeks), 2 consultation hours with Coordinator (x 12 weeks). 2 hours examination feedback in week 1 of following semester.

Scheduled learning hours

The number of compulsory student:staff contact hours over the period of the module.

Guided independent study hours

254

The number of hours that students are expected to invest in independent study over the period of the module.

Intended learning outcomes

To explore the genesis of human rights;
Critically assess the strengths and weaknesses of competing arguments that centre on the politics of human rights;
To consider the political implications of various human rights perspectives;
To critically explore the theory and practice of human rights, by utilising a social constructionist account of human rights and power and postcolonialism.