Digital Reading Room 2.0 -- POLI 450: Globalization and Human Rights (Rev. C1 and Rev. C2)

POLI 450: Globalization and Human Rights (Rev. C1 and Rev. C2) Report a Broken Link

Welcome to Political Science 450: Globalization and Human Rights. This course explores how globalization and human rights are interrelated. While wealthy nations of the Global North historically have given civil and political rights precedence, contemporary human rights discourse tends to view human rights as indivisible. Thus, second and third generation rights—economic, social, cultural, and collective—are now discussed in conjunction with first generation rights (civil and political rights). The course places a particular emphasis on how economic, neo-liberal globalization has impacted human rights in the Global South, but also stresses how neo-liberal globalization has negatively impacted human rights in the Global North. Later, the course discusses how human rights may be best promoted and protected. Finally, the course concludes that a vibrant civil society, social movements, and transnational advocacy campaigns can impact human rights outcomes in positive ways. Political Science 450 offers ample opportunity for you to explore your interest in globalization and human rights. Welcome aboard!

Required Readings

Unit 1

Weston, Burns H. (1984). Human rights. Human Rights Quarterly, 6(3), 257–283.

United Nations. (1948). Universal declaration of human rights.

Updated Aug. 20/21

Ishay, M. R. (2004). What are human rights? Six historical controversies. Journal of Human Rights, 3(3), 359–371.

Tharoor, S. (1999–2000). Are human rights universal?” World Policy Journal, 16(4), 1.

Unit 2

Steger, M. B. (2003). Chapter 1: Globalization: A Contested Concept. In M. B. Steger, Globalization: A Very Short Introduction. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press.

Note: Read Chapter 1.

Unit 3

Pollis, A. (2004). Human rights and globalization. Journal of Human Rights, 3(3), 343–358.

Howard-Hassmann, R. E. (2005). The second great transformation: Human rights leapfrogging in the era of globalization.” Human Rights Quarterly 27(1), 1–40.

Rodríguez, H. (2004). A “long walk to freedom” and democracy: Human rights, globalization, and social injustice. Social Forces, 83(1): 391–412.

Smith, K. I. (2004). Response to Rodríguez: A “long walk to freedom” and democracy? Social Forces, 83(1), 413–421.

Unit 4

Sachs, W. (2004). Environment and human rights. Development, 47(1), 42–49.

Tilly, C. (1995). Globalization threatens labor’s rights. International Labor and Working-Class History, 47, 1–34.

Wallerstein, I. (1995). Response [to Tilly]: Declining states, declining rights? International Labor and Working-Class History, 47, 24–28.

Sen, A. (1999). Excerpts from Development as freedom (pp. 3–11, 35–53). Alfred A. Knopf.

Unit 5

Twiss, S. B. (2004). History, human rights and globalization. Journal of Religious Ethics, 32(1).

Note: Read pages 39–49, up to “2.3 Right to health and environmental protection.”

International Forum on Globalization. (2007). Globalization: Effects on indigenous peoples [map].

Wiessner, S. (2011). The cultural rights of indigenous peoples: Achievements and continuing challenges. The European Journal of International Law, 22(1), 121–140.

United Nations. (2008). Declaration on the rights of Indigenous peoples.

United Nations. (2008). Frequently asked questions on the rights of indigenous peoples.

International Forum on Globalization. (2007). Toward a campaign in support of the UN declaration on the rights of Indigenous peoples.

Note: Read pages 5 and 18–20.

Robinson, F. (2003). Human rights and the global politics of resistance: Feminist perspectives. Review of International Studies, 29(S1), 161–180.

Oloka-Onyango, J. (2005). Who’s watching “Big Brother”? Globalisation and the protection of cultural rights in present-day Africa. African Human Rights Law Journal, 2, 1–26.

Unit 6

Ishay, M. (2004). Promoting human rights in the era of globalization and interventions: The changing spaces of struggle. Globalizations, 1(2), 181–193.

Gready, P. (2004). Conceptualising globalisation and human rights: Boomerangs and borders. International Journal of Human Rights, 8(3), 345–354.

Martens, K. (2004). Bypassing obstacles to access: How NGOs are taken piggy-back to the UN. Human Rights Review, 5(3), 80–91.

De Feyter, K. (2005). Geneva. In Human rights: Social justice in the age of the market (pp. 90–134). Fernwood Publishing.

Unit 8

Bantekas, I. (2004).Corporate social responsibility in international law. Boston University International Law Journal, 22, 309–347.

Aguirre, D. (2005). Corporate social responsibility and human rights law in Africa. African Human Rights Law Journal, 5(2), 239–265.

Smith, J. (2010). Power, interests, and the United Nations Global Compact. Prepared for T. Porter, & K. Ronit (eds.), Globalization, private-sector authority, and new modes of democratic policy-making. New York: State University of New York Press.

Rondon, G. (2008). Canadian mining in Latin America: Corporate social responsibility and women’s testimonies. Canadian Woman Studies, 27(1).

Note: Read from page 89 up to “Testimonies” on page 92.

Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. (2012). The new conquistadors [online video clip].