110-553 Human Rights in Southeast Asia

Admission to the Master of Contemporary Asian Analysis or Master of International Politics or permission of the subject coordinator.

This subject will focus on human rights and its critics from a historical and comparative perspective in the context of current debates about globalisation, democratisation, and political community. The first part of the course will deal briefly with specific conventions; the rest of the course will engage case studies for understanding the internationalisation of human rights discourses and the role of international organisations and NGOs in implementing them. The seminar introduces students to difference conceptions of rights, citizenship, constitutional rights, and social justice, including feminist critiques of rights discourse and of development; historical analyses of the meaning of freedom and sovereignty; ethnographic studies on the relationship between attitudes towards bodily integrity and human rights; the debates about poverty, economic development and access to adequate health care as human rights; and other formations of violence that cannot be recuperated or inventoried in conventional human rights discourses. We shall draw upon a wide range of sources from theoretical works, philosophical and anthropological critiques of rights discourse, constitutional rights, legal treatises, judicial affairs, and NGO documents. On completion of the subject students should have a broad historical, comparative and critical perspective on the debates about rights and justice in Southeast Asia and be able to analyse political violence beyond inventorising violations and narratives of victimisation.

• have an ability to evaluate research and professional literature concerning contemporary Asia;

• have a capacity to articulate their findings and views in oral and written presentations;

• have an advanced understanding of major issues and sensitivities regarding contemporary Asia;

• have a capacity to engage where appropriate with issues to do with contemporary Asia.

An essay/issue-action scrapbook of 2000 words 40% (due mid-semester) and a research paper of 3000 words 60% (due at the end of semester).

Materials prepared by the Institute.