Human Rights: Citizenship & Violence in the New World Order HONC3310 §7140; TR 10:50-12:05 McAlister 402
Instructor: Ron Novy Email: rnovy@uca.edu Telephone: 852-2641	Course page: http://faculty.uca.edu/~rnovy Office: Harrin 225A Office Hrs: MWF 11:00-1:30; TR 12:15-1:30; by appt.
Textbooks: The Human Rights Reader by Micheline R. Ishay; Social Philosophy by Joel Feinberg; other required readings will be available via the course web site. See the course page for appropriate links. Course Description: This course will focus on the future of human rights: as such, we will examine the origins of human rights in Western philosophical thought as well as the ethical and political role played by human rights in our contemporary world. We will examine numerous questions regarding the nature of human rights: What does it mean to say something is a “right?” Where do these come from? How are they justified? Do they apply to all human equally? Can “human rights,” a fundamentally Enlightenment notion, survive in the age of globalization? Traditional tensions regarding the place of human rights have only heightened in the 21^st Century: What are the limits – if any – to the power of government to intervene in the lives of citizens? Can the Western emphasis on formal civil and political rights be balanced against concerns for social and economic justice? Is patriotism obsolete in an evermore cosmopolitan world? What is it to be, as Diogenes described himself, a "kosmou polites” – a citizen of the world? Preparation and expectations: Students are expected to attend all class meetings, to be familiar with the day’s assigned readings, and to actively participate in classroom discussions. Grading: Your course grade will be determined as follows: précis & presentation (20%), 12 evaluative essays (40%), and two essay exams (20% each). Your participation and attendance will serve as a grade ceiling for the course. · Exams: There will be two essay exams for this course: one at mid-term, the other during the final exam period. · Evaluative Essays: Through the course of the semester, each student is required to submit 12 critical, one-page essays on the assigned material. See notes at the course web page for further information. · Précis & presentation: Each student is expected to draw up and present a précis of one of the articles as well as to lead discussion during that class period. See notes at the course web page for further information. · Class participation & attendance: Roll will be taken regularly and will act as a ceiling on the student’s grade for the course. Regardless of grades received on the various assignments, a student’s course grade will not exceed the percentage of classes attended. · No extra credit is available nor are makeup exams given. Important Notes: · The use of all electronic information devices in the classroom (cell phones, PDAs, headphones, etc.) is prohibited. · Academic dishonesty as an extremely serious matter with serious consequences that range from a failing grade to expulsion from the University. When in doubt regarding plagiarism, quotation, collaboration, etc. consult with the instructor. For further information regarding UCA’s academic misconduct policy, see the UCA Student Handbook. · Sexual harassment by any faculty member, staff member, or student is a violation of both federal law and university policy and will not be tolerated at UCA. For further information regarding the university’s sexual harassment policy, see the UCA Student Handbook. · The University of Central Arkansas adheres to the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act. If you need an accommodation under this act, contact the Office of Disability Support Services at 450-3135.

Human Rights Seminar: Reading & Assignment Schedule: Spring 2007
	January 11 Introductory Tidbits
January 16 Lukes: Five Fables about Human Rights	January 18 [SP] Chap. 1: “The Concept of Freedom”
January 23 Rights Before “Human Rights” Plato: The Republic Epictectus: Discourses St. Paul: The New Testament	January 25 Magna Carta Aquinas: Summa Theologica De las Casas: In Defense of the Indians
January 30 Liberalism & the Enlightenment [SP] Chap. 2,3: “Grounds for Coercion,” “Hard Cases …”	February 1 Free Expression & Religious Oppression [CW] Milton: Areopegitica [CW] Locke: A Letter Concerning Toleration [CW] Voltaire: A Treatise on Toleration [CW] Voltaire: “On Religion”
February 6 Punishment & the Right to Life Grotius: On Laws of War and Peace Hobbes: Leviathan Habeas Corpus Act (1671) English Bill of Rights (1689) Beccaria: Treatise on Crimes and Punishments	February 8 The Right to Property Locke: The Second Treatise of the State of Nature Rousseau: On the Geneva Manuscript [CW] Winstanley: “Declaration from the Poor Oppressed of England” Robespierre: “On Property Rights”
February 13 To Be a Citizen Declaration of Independence Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizens Kant: Perpetual Peace Kant: The Metaphysics of Morals	February 15 Rights for Whom? Paine: “African Slavery in America” Paine: The Rights of Man De Gouge: The Declaration of the Rights of Women Wollstonecraft: A Vindication of the Rights of Women
February 20	February 22 Industrial Revolution & Socialist Response [SP] Chap 4, 5 “Legal Rights,” “Conflicts of Legal Rights”
February 27 Marx & Engels: Communist Manifesto (parts1,2,4)	March 1 Economic and Social Rights Proudhon: What is property? Marx: Critique of the Gotha Program Marx: The Universal Suffrage Trotsky: Their Morals and Ours
March 6 FreeTrade and Class Warfare Kautsky: The Dictatorship of the Proletariat Luxemburg: The Janius Pamphlet (Chapters 1, 8) Marx: On the Possibility of a Non-Violent Revolution Marx: Letter to Lincoln	March 8 For whom? Bebel: Women and Socialism Engels: Origins of the Family Marx: Inaugural Address, Working Men’s Internat’l Assoc. Proudhon: Principle of Federalism
March 13 Exam #1	March 15 Decolonization & Institutionalized Rights Locke: Of the Dissolution of Government Luxemburg: The Nat’l Question and Autonomy Mill: Considerations on Representative Government
March 20 International Institutions Covenant of the League of Nations Dewey: Means and Ends Roosevelt: The Four Freedoms UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights Wilson: The Fourteen Points Address	March 22 Colonial Resistance Fanon: The Wretched of the Earth Gandhi: An Appeal to the Nation Gandhi: Equal Distribution through Nonviolence Gandhi: Means and Ends Gandhi: Passive Resistance
March 27-29 Spring Holiday
April 3 Globalization & Contemporary Issues [SP] Chap. 6,7: “Human Rights,” “Social Justice”	April 5 McShane: Sport and Human Rights
April 10 Murfin: Rights and Visual Artists	April 12 Guzzardi: The International Criminal Court
April 17 Hoke: The Case of Tibet	April 19 Cox: Just War
April 24 Whitworth: Gay Rights & Same-Sex Marriage	April 26 Go outside, play in the sun & prep for finals
Note: All readings from The Human Rights Reader except [SP] - Social Philosophy; & [CW] - found or linked at the course web site	May 3 Exam #2 (11:00 -1:00)