IR241 HUMAN RIGHTS HISTORY
| Course Code: | 3140241 |
| METU Credit (Theoretical-Laboratory hours/week): | 3(3-0) |
| ECTS Credit: | 6.0 |
| Department: | International Relations |
| Language of Instruction: | English |
| Level of Study: | Undergraduate |
| Course Coordinator: | |
| Offered Semester: | Fall and Spring Semesters. |
Course Content
This course is about the origins of human rights. It traces the roots of universal human rights as formulated by thecovenants and conventions of the 20th century in different ideas, cultures, and civilizations. While underlining the
plurality of human experience, and particularities of different ideas, cultures, and civilizations this course explains how
these all eventually culminated in internationally recognized UN documents on human rights. In so doing, this course
explores the idea of rights, individual protection, liberty, and social welfare in the ancient world, major religious
traditions, and the enlightenment and industrial revolution. The emergence of civil and political rights, economic and
social rights, and the right to self-determination are explored in a historical context. The origins of humanitarian
intervention in the just war theory and the emergence of humanitarian law with regard to slavery and warfare are also
covered. This course is concluded with a general evaluation of how different historical experiences, traditions, and
ideas have contributed to the contemporary approaches, institutions, and practice of human rights.