Human Rights and Humanitarianism

Steering Committee: James Dawes (Co-Director, English), Martin Gunderson (Philosophy), Juliette Rogers (Co-Director, French and Francophone Studies), Joëlle Vitiello (French and Francophone Studies), Erik Larson (Sociology), Nadya Nedelsky (International Studies), Dianna Shandy (Anthropology), Wendy Weber (Political Science)

This concentration provides students an opportunity to engage in the interdisciplinary study of human rights and humanitarianism. The objectives of the concentration are to cultivate in students: (a) a familiarity with major developments in the history of human rights and humanitarianism; (b) an understanding of the institutional frameworks governing human rights and humanitarianism, including international law, international organizations, civil society movements, etc.; (c) an understanding of the theoretical and philosophical debates about the meanings of human rights and humanitarianism; (d) a capacity to understand and evaluate practical debates over the methods, motivations, and consequences of human rights and humanitarian action, including but not limited to questions of policy-making, fieldwork, and media and artistic representation; (e) a familiarity with a range of current and past global (including local, national, and international) human rights problems.

Given that students and faculty approach the study of human rights and humanitarianism from a variety of disciplinary perspectives, the program permits students to complete this concentration in conjunction with a wide array of majors. The program promotes breadth by requiring that students complete courses in more than one department.

Programs

• Human Rights and Humanitarianism Interdepartmental Concentration