Human Rights

Catalog description

History is replete with rabid pogroms, merciless religious wars, tragic show trials, and even genocide. For as long as people have congregated, they have defined themselves, in part, as against an other—and have persecuted that other. But history has also yielded systems of constraints. So, how can we hope to achieve a meaningful understanding of the human experience without examining both the wrongs and the rights? Should the human story be left to so-called realists, who claim that power wins out over ideals every time? Or is there a logic of mutual respect that offers better solutions? This lecture will examine the history of international human rights and focus on the claims that individuals and groups make against states in which they live. Sickness and Health in Africa HIST 3711 Mary Dillard Sophomore and Above, Seminar—Spring | 5 credits Depending on the level of his or her resources, a sick person in Africa potentially has access to a variety of options for treatment. How illness is perceived becomes a crucial determinant in how people seek care. Unfortunately, despite an array of treatment options, the state of public health in many African countries has become woefully inadequate. While the reasons for this decline in health status are related to questions of international political economy, they can also be traced historically. This course will study the history of health, healing, and medical practices in Africa to identify the social, historical, and economic factors that influence how therapeutic systems in Africa have changed over time. We will investigate a range of topics, including the place of traditional healers in providing care, the impact of the COVID and AIDS pandemics on overall public health, and the changing structure of health care delivery. Students will analyze the impact of funding cuts to the United States Agency for International…