Anthropology of Human Rights

3 units

This course draws on anthropological scholarship to examine doctrines, practices, and institutions associated with international human rights law. Topics to be covered include: (1) colonialism and the history of international human rights low; (2) the complex theoretical issues raised by attempts to define and apply human rights concepts in different cultural contexts; (3) the role of governments, NGOs, and other international institutions in promoting human rights and humanitarianism; (4) key human rights issues such as freedom of religion, cultural rights, women's rights, and economic rights in different cultural contexts.