Module code: HST5405
Teaching Staff: Andrew Fitzmaurice
Credits: 15
Module Convenor: Professor Andrew Fitzmaurice
Where do human rights come from? Historians began treating 'human rights' as a distinct historical subject about a decade ago, and since then the field has grown considerably. In this short time the field has shifted from a celebration of the origins and roots of a universal language for making moral claims, to more critical interpretations of historical origins that question the consequences of this inheritance for contemporary politics and global justice. In this QMUL Model module, we will examine the origins of the idea of human rights, how it became institutionalized in law and international politics, and how its history and prospects have become so fiercely contested today. We will reflect on the history of abolitionism, human rights, and humanitarianism in a global setting, and analyse the impact of modern international and multi-cultural perspectives on the evolution of 'human rights history'.
Assessment: Essay Plan 20%, Essay 80% Level: 5