PS531, The International Law of Human Rights
Fall 2004
Questions to Reflect Upon for Weeks 1 and 2
The History and Origins of Human Rights
Reading Assignment:
Lauren, introduction, chapters 1-2
Symonides, chapter 1
Lauren, chapters 3-4
In working on the reading assignment for the first two weeks of the course, reflect upon the following questions which will be the basis for the class discussion during August 30.
Lauren, Introduction
1. What general observations does Lauren make about the evolution of human rights?
Lauren, chapter 1
2. What types of developments have contributed to the evolution of human rights down through the centuries?
3. What contributions have religious teachings and institutions made to the evolution of human rights?
4. Who are some the leading philosophers who have contributed to thinking about human rights? What ideas are associated with which philosophers?
5. Which philosophers and doctrines stood in opposition the expansion of human rights?
6. What contributions did the American and French revolutions make to the advancement of human rights?
Lauren, chapter 2
7. What types of human rights causes came to the forefront during the 19th century?
8. What types of strategies were used to advance human rights causes during the 19th century?
Lauren, chapter 3
9. What was happening on the human rights front between 1900 and the beginning of the First World War in 1914?
10. What implications did the First World War have for the evolution of human rights?
11. What role did the League of Nations play in the furthering of human rights?
Lauren, chapter 4
12. What types of human rights issue came to the forefront during the interwar period?
13. What challenges and obstacles to human rights arose during the interwar period?
Buergenthal (chapter 1 in Symonides) International Court of Justice
14. What reasons does Buergenthal cite for the gradual erosion of the principle of state sovereignty to allow for the international recognition of human rights?
15. What stages does Buergenthal see in the evolution of human rights since the Second World War? What were the major developments in each of the these stages?