Democracy and Human Rights (various lectures)



Human Rights & Democracy Lecture outline

Video “What are Human Rights” (a brief historical overview)

History of development of HR, Raised issues of : Enforceability of Human Rights, & H. Rts as Struggle and Advocacy

Example of Human Agency Vs. Social Structure concept (ala Dolgon and Baker Ch. 1 from intro topic)

Social Movements struggle for HR VS. Govt’s and Corporations that violate HR.

Overview of Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UN web rdg.) –

2 categories of Rights--Individual Rights (first 21 rights), Social and Economic Rights (last 8 rights).

Democracy—The Tension between Political Equality (Democracy) VS. Economic Inequality and how wealth influences politics (see this in Reich rdg. 44 in C&V, & Savage et al. web rdg)

Citizens United case “Corporate Free Speech” rights (“Corporate personhood” affirmed) to spend unlimited $ on political campaigns, increase Corp. Pol. Power. Money = Political Influence if not Power … (Colbert video Clip on this & Savage et al. web rdg.)

Views on Rights (drawing on Web rdgs: Universal Declaration of H Rts.; Corn, et al.; Rios book)

Nationalist View (civil rights) Vs. Human Rights Perspective –Overview of each and Differences between them, and an example of two for each…

Conflicts between these 2 RTS. Perspectives—E.G., Illegal Border Crossing of immigrants (ala Rios case) to seek better life/provide for family vs. Border enforcement authority of nation; Md Crab Pickers & Texas Construction workers as HR vs. Nation-state right to control borders, Migrant workers have rights? (Nazario et al web rdg.; Gaudiano & Greenhouse web rdg.)

H. Rts. Enforceability? Very limited options – Multinational Corps. being sued for HR violations in foreign countries, New UN framework for Corporations & Human Rights “Protect, Respect, and Remedy” being adopted by some corps. & international organizations ( Corn et al web rdg.)

HR’s as Tools for Evaluation, Activism & Ed. & Awareness (e.g., Gaudiano and Greenhouse web rdg.)

Migrant Workers & their advocates fighting for rights (esp. social & economic rights) in Maryland Crab picking and in Texas Construction industry. Facing low wages, difficult & dangerous working conditions, & unfair fees for visas (for those who can get visas) (Gaudiano and Greenhouse web rdg.)

[This is an example of Human Agency vs. Social Structure]

Human Rights of children fleeing violence in Central America (esp. Honduras) coming to US without permission /visas – conflicts with US laws, but humanitarian crisis / problem. Many fleeing increasing violence (Nazario et al. web rdg.)

--Nicaragua alternative, more effective model of policing that is much more effective, focused more on social factors and community outreach than on harsh punishments… (Nazario et al. web rdg.)

US freedoms &rights have been limited in post Sept. 11th period to fight terrorism. List some of key rights we have lost or that have been limited. In light of this, key questions is: Are we becoming less democratic & instead authoritarian? (Carter and Turley web rdg.)

Types of Violence (both affect human rights & many other issues)

1. Direct Violence – more obvious type

2. Structural Violence—less obvious, not often seen as violence

2 Models of US Politics:

Pluralist Model Vs. Power Elite Model

In general, key features (interest groups, competition & compromise, checks and balances, parts of elite, pyramid, revolving door), & how they differ view of how widely power is distributed (dispersed widely or concentrated)

Power of Corporations Vs. Other forces (Govt., Unions, Small Bus., Sm. Farmers, etc.) (Reich Rdg. #44 in Ch. & Vig.) -- “Free Mkt.” myth Vs “Big Govt.” myth – Managerial elite power

[recent Govt. Bailouts of banks illustrate myth of “free Market” also…]

-- Corporate view of Rights, Corps. are authoritarian bureaucracies not democracies…

-- Corporate Power over Workers, (Worker Rights limited)

[Does this fit better with Pluralist or Power Elite model of politics?]

Other things to know for Test, but not mentioned in class (or not much)

Human Rights in Rios case (Ch 10-18)—Education access & use of mutual respect to make it work as well as determination (Ch. 12 & 13), Police treatment (abuse) & indifference to murder of gang members (Ch. 10 & 11), Connecting with Aztec dancing as healing and empowerment (Chs. 13 & 14), Marriage and family (Ch. 14, 16, 17), Dream job and working with gangs to lessen violence and increase ed (Ch. 13, 14, 15). Also consider issues in earlier chapters (first half of book) as well – the extreme poverty & poor housing, border crossing & interactions with Border Patrol, Very low wages for work in US, lack of day care, school problems and how treated by teachers, gang violence (& why he joined gang), treatment by criminal justice system, etc.

Be able to link Rios examples and issues to specific Human Rights.

US Foreign Policy (Often does not promote democracy and human rights)

US often allied w/ Tyrants (Dictators, Monarchies), contradicts US ideals of democracy, freedom, and individual rights. (Hiatt et al. web rdg.)

How do some Multinational Corporations (MNC’s) affect Human Rights in developing countries (e.g., oil companies active in Burma, Nigeria, Ecuador, etc.)? And How can H. Rts. be publicized and at least a little bit enforced through courts (Corn et al. web rdg.)

How is idea of Human Agency-Social Structure (from D&B Chapter 1) present in. Immigrant crab and construction workers and their treatment & responses (Gaudiano & Greenhouse web rdg.), the “Arab spring” uprisings (Hiatt et al web rdg.), & “corporate rights” issue (Corn et al. web rdg) & in Rios’ life story?

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