GEET 311 | Course Introduction and Application Information - Department of Genetics and Bioengineering

Course Name

Politics of Human Rights

Code	Semester	Theory (hour/week)	Application/Lab (hour/week)	Local Credits	ECTS
GEET 311	Fall/Spring	3	0	3	4

Prerequisites	None
Course Language	English
Course Type	Service Course
Course Level	First Cycle
Mode of Delivery	-
Teaching Methods and Techniques of the Course	Discussion Lecture / Presentation
National Occupation Classification	-
Course Coordinator	-
Course Lecturer(s)	Öğr. Gör. Dr. Berat Uygar ALTINOK
Assistant(s)	Araş. Gör. Nil DİKMENGİL

Course Objectives

This course is designed to introduce students with the development of human rights as a global phenomenon, an international legal regime transgressing state borders. Our aim is to explore certain questions pertaining to human rights: What is it that we call “human rights”? In what historical periods can we locate progress and expansion in human rights? What do human rights stand for/against? What does it mean to have human rights with a claim to universality? By giving priority to primary texts and documents on human rights, we will try to understand this historical, legal, and political concept both in theory and practice.

Learning Outcomes

#	Content	PC Sub	* Contribution Level
#	Content	PC Sub	1	2	3	4	5
1	to be able to explain political history of human rights
2	to be able to evaluate changes in human rights during the globalization process
3	to be able to explain use of child labor within the context of human rights violations
4	to be able to analyze climate change within the context of human rights violations
5	to be able to explain economic, social and political aspects of human rights in Turkey

Course Description

Our course will proceed on the basis of three parts. In the first part, we will have a general introduction to the course, and will read the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of 1948 adopted by the United Nations. In this part, we will also spend time on a broad yet somewhat nuanced enough trajectory of human rights. In so doing, we will try to diagnose and shed light upon certain keystones, radical shifts, and arguably progressive moments in historical development of conceptual, political and legal articulations of human rights. In the second part, we will focus on the early 20th century developments on human rights; such as the two world wars, the Nuremberg Trials, and the international recognition of “crimes against humanity” and genocide. We will spare our last few weeks on the decolonization period onwards. In this part we will discuss issues such as right to self-determination, child labor, migrant workers, and rights of persons with disabilities.

Course Category	Core Courses
	Major Area Courses
	Supportive Courses
	Media and Management Skills Courses
	Transferable Skill Courses

Week	Subjects	Related Preparation	Learning Outcome
1	Introduction to the course: Presentation and an overview of the course, course organization, requirements and methods of evaluation
2	Defining the Concept of Human Rights	Carey, et. Al. (Cambridge University Press, 2010): “The Politics of Human Rights”, pp.7-39
3	Historical Development and Philosophical Justifications of Human Rights	Andrew Clapham (Oxford University Press, 2007): “Human Rights – a Very Short Introduction”, pp.23-56
4	Human Rights and Political Theory	Hannah Arendt – The Perplexities of the Rights of Men in Origins of Totalitarianism
5	Genocide and Crimes against Humanity	UN Charter, Nuremberg Trials, Convention on Genocide (1948) Andrew Clapham, “Persecution of International Crimes,” in Human Rights: A Very Short Introduction, (NY: Oxford University Press), pp. 33-42.
6	Rights of refugees, migrants, prisoners of war and prevention of torture	UN Convention Relating to Status of Refugees (1951) Sabine C. Carey et al. “The Politics of Human Rights”, pp. 73-86.
7	Midterm I
8	Human Rights and Political Theory	Jaques Ranciere – “Who is the Subject of Rights of Men?”
9	Human Rights and Political Theory	Martha Nussbaum – “Capabilities and Human Rights
10	Cultural Rights as Human Rights	Henriette Dahan Kalev, 2004, “Cultural Rights or Human Rights: The Case of Female Genital Mutilation” Sex Roles, Vol. 51, No. 5/6.
11	Human rights in Turkey	Zehra Kabasakal Arat, “Collisions and Crossroads: Introducing Human Rights in Turkey”.
12	Midterm - II
13	Human Rights and Political Theory	Bruce Ackerman – “We the People” Introduction
14	Human Rights and Political Theory	Claude Lefort – The Political Forms of Modern Society, Chapter 7: Politics and Human Rights
15	Review of the Semester
16	Final Exam

Course Notes/Textbooks
Suggested Readings/Materials

Semester Activities	Number	Weighting	LO 1	LO 2	LO 3	LO 4	LO 5
Participation	1	20
Laboratory / Application
Field Work
Quizzes / Studio Critiques
Portfolio
Homework / Assignments
Presentation / Jury
Project
Seminar / Workshop
Oral Exams
Midterm	2	50
Final Exam	1	30
Total

Weighting of Semester Activities on the Final Grade	3	60
Weighting of End-of-Semester Activities on the Final Grade	1	40
Total

Semester Activities	Number	Duration (Hours)	Workload
Theoretical Course Hours (Including exam week: 16 x total hours)	16	3	48
Laboratory / Application Hours (Including exam week: '.16.' x total hours)	16		0
Study Hours Out of Class			0
Field Work			0
Quizzes / Studio Critiques			0
Portfolio			0
Homework / Assignments			0
Presentation / Jury			0
Project			0
Seminar / Workshop			0
Oral Exam			0
Midterms	2	20	40
Final Exam	1	30	30
		Total	118

#	PC Sub	Program Competencies/Outcomes	* Contribution Level
#	PC Sub	Program Competencies/Outcomes	1	2	3	4	5
1	To have adequate knowledge in Mathematics, Science and Genetics and Bioengineering; to be able to use theoretical and applied information in these areas on complex engineering problems.		-	-	-	-	-
2	To be able to identify, define, formulate, and solve complex Genetics and Bioengineering problems; to be able to select and apply proper analysis and modeling methods for this purpose.		-	-	-	-	-
3	To be able to design a complex system, process, device or product under realistic constraints and conditions, in such a way as to meet the requirements; to be able to apply modern design methods for this purpose.		-	-	-	-	-
4	To be able to devise, select, and use modern techniques and tools needed for analysis and solution of complex problems in Genetics and Bioengineering applications; to be able to use information technologies effectively.		-	-	-	-	-
5	To be able to design and conduct experiments, gather data, analyze and interpret results for investigating complex engineering problems or Genetics and Bioengineering research topics.		-	-	-	-	-
6	To be able to work efficiently in Genetics and Bioengineering disciplinary and multi-disciplinary teams; to be able to work individually.		-	-	-	-	-
7	To be able to communicate effectively in Turkish, both orally and in writing; to be able to author and comprehend written reports, to be able to prepare design and implementation reports, to present effectively, to be able to give and receive clear and comprehensible instructions.		-	-	-	-	-
8	To have knowledge about global and social impact of Genetics and Bioengineering practices on health, environment, and safety; to have knowledge about contemporary issues as they pertain to engineering; to be aware of the legal ramifications of Genetics and Bioengineering solutions.		-	-	-	-	-
9	To be aware of ethical behavior, professional and ethical responsibility; to have knowledge about standards utilized in Genetics and Bioengineering applications.		-	-	-	-	-
10	To have knowledge about industrial practices such as project management, risk management, and change management; to have awareness of entrepreneurship and innovation; to have knowledge about sustainable development.		-	-	-	-	-
11	To be able to collect data in the area of Genetics and Bioengineering, and to be able to communicate with colleagues in a foreign language.		-	-	-	-	-
12	To be able to speak a second foreign language at a medium level of fluency efficiently.		-	-	-	-	-
13	To recognize the need for lifelong learning; to be able to access information, to be able to stay current with developments in science and technology; to be able to relate the knowledge accumulated throughout the human history to Genetics and Bioengineering.		-	-	-	-	-