110-553 Human Rights in Southeast Asia

Admission to the Master of Arts (Asian Societies) or the Master of International Politics or permission of the subject coordinator

This seminar 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. We will explore the factors that have given rise to radically different conception of rights and justice (i.e. political, economic, cultural, religious, ideological) and look at their implementation and the obstacles at the local, national, and international levels. 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. What is the relationship and relevance of the international human rights movement to local notions of rights? What impact is this having on local gender relations and the relationships of women to their states and communities? Are human rights NGOs weakening or strengthening the nation-states in Southeast Asia; are they sites of resistance or complicity? 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% (end of semester).

Materials prepared by the Institute.