History of Human Rights from Nineteenth Century to Present

Catalog description

World War I spurred a new era of humanitarianism, which ultimately led to the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights on December 10, 1948. This course will cover the history of Human Rights as it developed from early 19th Century notions of charity to that of today's inalienable rights. The assigned readings will explore how the consequences of war, famine, disease and historical legacies of slavery and colonialism pushed humanitarians to consider others who lived within and outside of their respective nation states. Contemporary Human Rights efforts will be examined from a historical perspective, taking into consideration various legal, political, religious and philosophical applications.