| 14 September - 22 November 2009
Instructor: Dr. Gerd Oberleitner
While we are inundated with news on terrorism, we often lack the time to reflect, in an informed way, on the impact which both terrorism and counter-terrorism have on our rights and security. This thematic course aims at looking beyond the headlines and taking a step back from the information overload on terrorist threats and acts. It provides space for learning more about terrorism as a phenomenon and on different ways of responding to terrorism.
By way of introduction, the course will trace the history, causes and manifestations of terrorism. We will consider the place of terrorism in human rights law, international humanitarian law and international criminal law and discuss terrorism as a human rights violation. Based on recent studies and research, and making use of selected case studies, the course will assess and reflect on the changes the 'War on Terrorism' has brought about for human rights and human security. We will critically assess responses to terrorism - by international organisations, intelligence services and courts and trough diplomacy, criminal investigations, military action, etc. - from a human rights perspective. Detaining suspected terrorists, allowing for "robust" interrogation techniques, ordering extra-ordinary renditions, compiling 'terrorist lists', conducting 'targeted killings', restricting freedom of expression and access to information - how do such measures fare against human rights standards? Which measures overstep the boundaries of human rights and what, exactly, are the issues at stake? Finally, we will seek to draw some lessons and reflect on some broader - and contested - issues: what does 'security' mean after 9/11? How can human rights and security demands be reconciled, and is security itself a human right? Is there a need to re-conceptualise human rights so as to be more responsive to security concerns?
This distance learning course is inter-disciplinary in its approach and draws on reading from international relations, international law, and terrorism and security studies. Knowledge of human rights and international humanitarian law is beneficial, but not a prerequisite. In ten weeks of learning, discussion and interaction an experienced course instructor will guide participants through the readings, discussions and assignments. He will provide information in form of on-line reading material, including Webcasts and videos, and in weekly "mini-lectures". The course involves approximately 50 hours of reading, on-line working groups, assignments, internet chats and interaction among students, the instructor and invited guests, and is offered over a 10-week period beginning on 14 September 2009. The course will integrate active and participatory learning approaches within activities and assignments, with an emphasis on reflective and collaborative learning. Participants will do the required reading, prepare assignments, including case studies, and participate in group discussions.
Course outline
Week 1: Introduction
Week 2: Terrorism: history, causes, definitions and manifestations
Week 3: Terrorism and human rights: linkages
Week 4: The 'War on Terrorism'
Counter-terrorist measures and human rights (case studies):
Week 5: The United Nations, the Security Council, and terrorism
Week 6: Detention, torture and rendition
Week 7: Fair trials for terrorists?
Week 8: Freedom of expression and access to information
Week 9: Targeted killings and military operations
Week 10: Summing up: human rights and human security in a (counter-)terrorist world
About the instructor
Dr. Gerd Oberleitner is lecturer at the Institute of International Law and International Relations of the University of Graz, Austria, and Visiting Fellow at the Centre for the Study of Human Rights of the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE). An international lawyer by training, his research interests are international human rights law, the law of armed conflict, the law of international organisations and human security. From 1998 to 1999 he served as legal adviser in the human rights department of the Austrian Ministry for Foreign Affairs, and has in subsequent years joined the Austrian governmental delegation to sessions of the (then) UN Human Rights Commission. From 1999 to 2002 he was Executive Secretary of the European Training and Research Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (ETC) in Graz, which he co-founded and where he is now member of the Executive Board. From 2002 to 2004 he was Lecturer in Human Rights at the London School of Economics. For more than ten years, he has taught international human rights law in various programmes at the LSE, the University of Graz and at various other institutions, including the European human rights master programmes in Sarajevo and Venice. He has been an instructor for HREA distance learning courses since 2003. His latest book is Global Human Rights Institutions – Between Remedy and Ritual (London, Polity, 2007).
Who should apply
The course is aimed at university students and graduates of international relations, international law, politics and other areas, NGO staff members, staff of international organisations and other practitioners who want to gain in-depth knowledge about terrorism and its impact on human rights and human security. Participants should have a good written command of English and have high competence and comfort with computer and Internet use. The number of participants is limited to 25 per course. HREA aims to ensure equal gender and geographical distribution across the selected participants. It is also possible to audit the course.
Costs
The course tuition fee is US$ 725; permanent residents of non-OECD countries are eligible for a discounted tuition rate of US$ 350. Tuition for auditors is US$ 275; permanent residents of non-OECD countries are eligible for a discounted tuition rate of US$ 125. Unfortunately, there are no scholarships available for this course.
* Current member countries of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) are: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Korea, Luxembourg, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovak Republic, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States.
Application
The application deadline for this course was Friday, 11 September 2009. Lecture notes, course readings and other materials and other course resources will soon be available publicly and for free as part of HREA's Open Education Initiative.
Frequently asked questions about HREA's e-learning courses.
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