Human Rights and Global Justice (825M9A)
Human Rights and Global Justice
Module 825M9A
Module details for 2026/27.
30 credits
FHEQ Level 7 (Masters)
Module Outline
Human rights have been denoted ‘the world’s secular religion’ (Eli Wiesel). Yet they face challenges from
populist parties and state policies, as from those who consider them inadequate for addressing the root causes
of atrocity and injustice.
What are human rights?
Where do they come from?
Who has contributed to their development and why do we tend to tell Eurocentric, rather than plural, stories
about their emergence?
And, importantly, what do they ‘do’ in world politics: for those in struggle and in power?
In a context where human rights appear embattled, you will take a critical approach to human rights as a
colonial, political and historical 'artefact', revisiting the history of slavery, colonialism and settler-colonialism, as
well as decolonisation struggles. You will explore debates about how racialised and gendered assumptions
shape how the ‘human’ of human rights has been recognised, and explore multiple sites of human rights in
practice:
• ‘Third-Wordlist’ struggles of the twentieth century and contemporary Global South uses of human
rights instruments
• Holding business accountable for harms to workers, communities and eco-systems
• Strategic litigation to address global patterns of violence, inequality and climate breakdown
• Anti-racist struggle and demands for reparative justic
Module learning outcomes
Develop systematic and critical understanding of this issue area
To analyse and evaluate theories of rights relevant to international relations
To conduct independent research on particular aspect of human rights in international relations
To summarise and evaluate key debates in this issue area
To develop the ability to use methodologies and knowledge from related disciplines such as international relations, anthropology and law
| Type | Timing | Weighting |
|---|---|---|
| Essay (4000 words) | Semester 1 Assessment Week 2 Mon 16:00 | 80.00% |
| Coursework | 20.00% | |
| Coursework components. Weighted as shown below. | ||
| Essay | T1 Week 7 | 100.00% |
Timing
Submission deadlines may vary for different types of assignment/groups of students.
Weighting
Coursework components (if listed) total 100% of the overall coursework weighting value.
| Term | Method | Duration | Week pattern |
|---|---|---|---|
| Autumn Semester | Seminar | 3 hours | 11111111111 |
How to read the week pattern
The numbers indicate the weeks of the term and how many events take place each week.
Prof Lara Montesinos Coleman
Assess convenor, Convenor
/profiles/259636
Prof Anne-Meike Fechter
Assess convenor
/profiles/158737
Dr Anna Laing
Assess convenor
/profiles/397849
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