Students

ANTH718 – Culture and Human Rights

2019 – S1 Evening

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff Convenor
Chris Vasantkumar
Contact via e-mail
North W32 AHH
Wednesday 4-6 and by appointment
Credit points Credit points
4
Prerequisites Prerequisites
Admission to MRes
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
ANTH 818
Unit description Unit description
This unit offers an overview of anthropology of human rights. Human rights, broadly understood, is a field that employs anthropology, especially as many difficult issues for the human rights movement today revolve specifically around cultural diversity, whether multiculturalism is successful, and how to bring about culture change to increase respect for human rights. Many long-term research projects in anthropology have to touch on key issues in human rights, including the rights of minority groups and indigenous populations. This unit examines the issues that arise when trying to apply human rights and humanitarian principles across cultures. Although we consider critical perspectives on human rights, we also focus on how anthropology might contribute to human rights practice around the globe.

Important Academic Dates

Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:

  • Develop familiarity with the history and evolution of human rights in legal, philosophical, and institutional contexts.
  • Develop the ability to assess received understandings of human rights discourses using anthropologically informed holistic and relativistic descriptions of cultural practices.
  • Critically evaluate the validity of a number of prominent critiques of human rights using anthropologically informed approaches
  • Apply a critical understanding of human rights and its critics to real world situations and phenomena.
  • Analyze how cultural difference affects the interpretation, institution, and enforcement of human rights in different societies.
  • Improve writing skills, especially structuring of argument, organization, and use of supporting evidence and data.

General Assessment Information

SEE ILEARN FOR FULL DETAILS ON SPECIFIC ASSESSMENTS!

How to Submit Your Work All assessments must be submitted via turnitin no later than 11:59pm on the due date. 

University Late Assessment Policy Unless a Special Consideration request has been submitted and approved, (a) a penalty for lateness will apply – two (2) marks out of 100 will be deducted per day for assignments submitted after the due date – and (b) no assignment will be  accepted more than seven (7) days (incl. weekends) after the original submission deadline. No late submissions will be accepted for timed assessments – e.g. quizzes, online tests.

Word Limits You will be deducted 1 percentage point for each 25 words by which you exceed the word limit. Please take the word limit very seriously and try to make your argument concisely and clearly. It is unfair to fellow students if one person has much more space to argue their case while another student sticks firmly to the length guidelines. The word limit is designed to level the essay-writing field, so to speak. You must provide a word count beneath the title when you submit your work. If you fail to provide a word count, you will be deducted 1 percentage point and the assessor will estimate length and mark accordingly. The word limit excludes end-of-text references but it includes footnotes and in-text citations. 

Failure to reach the minimum word count for an assessment will result in a penalty determined by calculating the percentage of the required word total you were able to complete. For example, if you wrote an essay 734 words in length for an assessment with a minimum word count of 1000 words, your mark would be penalized by 26.6% because you only completed 73.4% of the assessment. Example: your work would have received a 77D had it been 1000 words long, you wrote 734 words, your final mark would be 77 * 0.734 = 56 P. 

Plagiarism The fundamental principle of the University’s Academic Honesty Policy is that all staff and students act with integrity in the creation, development, application and use of ideas and information. This means that:

  • All academic work claimed as original is the work of the author making the claim.
  • All academic collaborations are acknowledged.
  • Academic work is not falsified in any way
  • When the ideas of others are used, these ideas are acknowledged appropriately.

The University defines plagiarism in its rules: "Plagiarism involves using the work of another person and presenting it as one's own." Plagiarism is a serious breach of the University's rules and carries significant penalties. You must read the University's definition of plagiarism and its academic honesty policy. These can be found in the Handbook of Undergraduate studies or on the web here.The policies and procedures explain what plagiarism is, how to avoid it, the procedures that will be taken in cases of suspected plagiarism, and the penalties if you are found guilty.  In this class I use turnitin to detect plagiarism and I take it very, very seriously. Plagiarism may result in a mark of zero for that assignment and, depending on the severity of the plagiarism, may also result in failing the unit and/or referral to the University Discipline Committee.

No consideration for lost work or technology issues It is the student’s responsibility to keep a copy (electronic or otherwise) of all written work submitted for each unit. No consideration will be given to claims of ‘lost work’ or technology issues no matter what the circumstances. It is your responsibility to ensure that your computer is fully compatible with iLearn during exam periods. 

Returning assignments Student work will usually be marked and returned within two to three weeks of receipt. Students who hand their work in before the due date will not have it returned early. Do not ask when marking will be finished. If you turned in you assignment late, it will likely be marked later.

Extensions and Special Consideration:

Please view the Special Consideration Policy at: https://students.mq.edu.au/study/my-study-program/special-consideration

All Special Consideration notifications are to be made online via the University’s Ask MQ system.

Remember, the University has determined that some circumstances routinely encountered by students are not acceptable grounds for claiming Special Consideration. These grounds include, but are not limited, to:

  • Routine demands of employment
  • Routine family problems such as tension with or between parents, spouses, and other people closely involved with the student
  • Difficulties adjusting to university life, to the self-discipline needed to study effectively, and the demands of academic work
  • Stress or anxiety associated with examinations, required assignments or any aspect of academic work
  • Routine need for financial support
  • Routine demands of sport, clubs and social or extra-curricular activities

Conditions existing prior to commencing a unit of study are not grounds for Special Consideration. The student is responsible for managing their workload in light of any known or anticipated problems. The student is responsible for contacting Student Support Services if they have a chronic condition.

Re-mark of Work During the Semester A re-mark will be considered only on the following grounds:

1. Administrative error 2. The feedback provided on the assessment does not justify the grade awarded

Student Procedure:

1.  The student must contact the original marker of the assessment (usually your tutor) to discuss the mark or resolve the administrative error. 2.  If the marking issue cannot be resolved by the original marker, the student will email the unit convenor.  This email must clearly detail the marking issue at hand.

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Class Preparation: DPG 15% No Continuing
Participation in seminar 20% No Continuing
Leading Seminar Discussion 15% No Twice/semester
Short Essay 20% No End of Week 5
Research Essay 30% No End of Week 13

Class Preparation: DPG

Due: Continuing
Weighting: 15%

Each week, you must fill out a Discussion Preparation Guide and bring it to class.  

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Develop familiarity with the history and evolution of human rights in legal, philosophical, and institutional contexts.
  • Improve writing skills, especially structuring of argument, organization, and use of supporting evidence and data.

Participation in seminar

Due: Continuing
Weighting: 20%

Each student is expected to participate actively and constructively in the seminar discussion. 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Develop familiarity with the history and evolution of human rights in legal, philosophical, and institutional contexts.
  • Develop the ability to assess received understandings of human rights discourses using anthropologically informed holistic and relativistic descriptions of cultural practices.
  • Apply a critical understanding of human rights and its critics to real world situations and phenomena.
  • Analyze how cultural difference affects the interpretation, institution, and enforcement of human rights in different societies.

Leading Seminar Discussion

Due: Twice/semester
Weighting: 15%

Each student is responsible for leading the seminar discussion twice during the semester.  (Dates for each person’s turns leading discussion will be worked out during first class meeting.)


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Develop familiarity with the history and evolution of human rights in legal, philosophical, and institutional contexts.
  • Develop the ability to assess received understandings of human rights discourses using anthropologically informed holistic and relativistic descriptions of cultural practices.
  • Critically evaluate the validity of a number of prominent critiques of human rights using anthropologically informed approaches
  • Apply a critical understanding of human rights and its critics to real world situations and phenomena.

Short Essay

Due: End of Week 5
Weighting: 20%

Write a short paper (1250-1750 words, double-spaced) on an assigned topic (see iLearn for topics)


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Develop the ability to assess received understandings of human rights discourses using anthropologically informed holistic and relativistic descriptions of cultural practices.
  • Critically evaluate the validity of a number of prominent critiques of human rights using anthropologically informed approaches
  • Analyze how cultural difference affects the interpretation, institution, and enforcement of human rights in different societies.
  • Improve writing skills, especially structuring of argument, organization, and use of supporting evidence and data.

Research Essay

Due: End of Week 13
Weighting: 30%

A research paper (3000-3500 words, double-spaced) analyzing a relevant aspect of contemporary Human Rights discourse and/practice in light of the material we have covered in the unit. You have wide latitude in terms of the focus that you select as long as you bring it into productive conversation with the unit’s themes, concerns and materials. Using Harvard reference style recommended.

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Apply a critical understanding of human rights and its critics to real world situations and phenomena.
  • Analyze how cultural difference affects the interpretation, institution, and enforcement of human rights in different societies.

Delivery and Resources

Readings will be available on electronic reserve. See iLearn for full details. Topics to be covered include the following:

Week

Topic

1

Introduction to Culture and Human Rights: What Do Human Rights Do?

2

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights

3

 Anthropology and Human Rights: What is Culture Anyway?

4

The Limits of the "Human:" Concepts and Case Studies

5

"Rights" and Their Critics: The View from "Asia"

6

Universal Rights, Local Practices

7

Human Rights, Some Influential Critiques

Mid-semester Recess

8

Refugees, Asylum Seekers, and Foreign Fighters: Human Rights and Security since 9/11

9

Blood, Sweat and Tears: Are Human Rights and Global Capitalism Compatible?

10

Indigeneity, Nature and the Right to Difference

11

Human Rights and the Non-Human

12

No Class--Research Essay Consultations

13

After Human Rights?

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policy-central). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

Undergraduate students seeking more policy resources can visit the Student Policy Gateway (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/student-policy-gateway). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.

If you would like to see all the policies relevant to Learning and Teaching visit Policy Central (https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policy-central).

Student Code of Conduct

Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/study/getting-started/student-conduct​

Results

Results published on platform other than eStudent, (eg. iLearn, Coursera etc.) or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit ask.mq.edu.au or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au

Student Support

Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/

Learning Skills

Learning Skills (mq.edu.au/learningskills) provides academic writing resources and study strategies to improve your marks and take control of your study.

Student Services and Support

Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.

Student Enquiries

For all student enquiries, visit Student Connect at ask.mq.edu.au

If you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au

IT Help

For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/offices_and_units/information_technology/help/

When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use of IT Resources Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.

Graduate Capabilities

PG - Discipline Knowledge and Skills

Our postgraduates will be able to demonstrate a significantly enhanced depth and breadth of knowledge, scholarly understanding, and specific subject content knowledge in their chosen fields.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Develop familiarity with the history and evolution of human rights in legal, philosophical, and institutional contexts.
  • Develop the ability to assess received understandings of human rights discourses using anthropologically informed holistic and relativistic descriptions of cultural practices.
  • Critically evaluate the validity of a number of prominent critiques of human rights using anthropologically informed approaches
  • Apply a critical understanding of human rights and its critics to real world situations and phenomena.
  • Improve writing skills, especially structuring of argument, organization, and use of supporting evidence and data.

Assessment tasks

  • Class Preparation: DPG
  • Participation in seminar
  • Leading Seminar Discussion
  • Short Essay
  • Research Essay

PG - Critical, Analytical and Integrative Thinking

Our postgraduates will be capable of utilising and reflecting on prior knowledge and experience, of applying higher level critical thinking skills, and of integrating and synthesising learning and knowledge from a range of sources and environments. A characteristic of this form of thinking is the generation of new, professionally oriented knowledge through personal or group-based critique of practice and theory.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Develop familiarity with the history and evolution of human rights in legal, philosophical, and institutional contexts.
  • Develop the ability to assess received understandings of human rights discourses using anthropologically informed holistic and relativistic descriptions of cultural practices.
  • Critically evaluate the validity of a number of prominent critiques of human rights using anthropologically informed approaches
  • Apply a critical understanding of human rights and its critics to real world situations and phenomena.
  • Analyze how cultural difference affects the interpretation, institution, and enforcement of human rights in different societies.

Assessment tasks

  • Class Preparation: DPG
  • Participation in seminar
  • Leading Seminar Discussion
  • Short Essay
  • Research Essay

PG - Research and Problem Solving Capability

Our postgraduates will be capable of systematic enquiry; able to use research skills to create new knowledge that can be applied to real world issues, or contribute to a field of study or practice to enhance society. They will be capable of creative questioning, problem finding and problem solving.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcome

  • Improve writing skills, especially structuring of argument, organization, and use of supporting evidence and data.

Assessment tasks

  • Class Preparation: DPG
  • Short Essay

PG - Effective Communication

Our postgraduates will be able to communicate effectively and convey their views to different social, cultural, and professional audiences. They will be able to use a variety of technologically supported media to communicate with empathy using a range of written, spoken or visual formats.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcome

  • Improve writing skills, especially structuring of argument, organization, and use of supporting evidence and data.

Assessment tasks

  • Class Preparation: DPG
  • Short Essay

PG - Engaged and Responsible, Active and Ethical Citizens

Our postgraduates will be ethically aware and capable of confident transformative action in relation to their professional responsibilities and the wider community. They will have a sense of connectedness with others and country and have a sense of mutual obligation. They will be able to appreciate the impact of their professional roles for social justice and inclusion related to national and global issues

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Develop familiarity with the history and evolution of human rights in legal, philosophical, and institutional contexts.
  • Develop the ability to assess received understandings of human rights discourses using anthropologically informed holistic and relativistic descriptions of cultural practices.
  • Apply a critical understanding of human rights and its critics to real world situations and phenomena.
  • Analyze how cultural difference affects the interpretation, institution, and enforcement of human rights in different societies.

Assessment tasks

  • Class Preparation: DPG
  • Participation in seminar
  • Leading Seminar Discussion
  • Short Essay
  • Research Essay