The MA Program in Democxracy and Human Rights

Group I : Required Courses in Democracy and Human Rights

DMHR 631: Democracy in Theory and Practice

An analytical study of the main elements of democratic systems: the basic concepts, theoretical assumptions, different concepts, forms and institutions of democracy, the relation between liberalism and democracy and the concept of citizenship, civil rights of individuals and groups, means of safeguarding them, and the measures taken to grant those rights for all citizens. The course will include a discussion of the concepts of equality, social, and economic rights, the embodiment of democratic ideas in concrete political systems throughout history. The course also offers a critique of democratic theory and practice in the twentieth century, and the use of democracy as an instrument inforeign policy.

syllabus in Arabic

DMHR 632: International Human Rights Law

A study of the idea of a Human Rights Law: its origin, development, and the principles underlying it. The course also discusses the role of the UN in the dissemination of the ideas of human rights and their protection, with special attention to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and other relevant regional treaties and agreements. The basic questions and problems to be covered include: the emergence and development of international treaties to protect human rights, different approaches to women's rights, children's rights, political, economic, and social rights that are protected through protection of human rights. The course will also discuss concepts related to the cultural specificity versus the universal character of human rights, the right to life, the outlawing of torture, racial discrimination, religious intolerance, freedom of expression, protection of the rights of minorities, emergency laws, and social and economic rights.

DMHR 633: Democracy and Social Justice

An in-depth discussion of the relation between democracy and social-economic rights, with special focus on three orientations in this field: the view that there is no relation between democracy and social-economic rights; the view which emphasizes the need for a minimum of economic prosperity based on social-economic rights in order to ensure the stability of democratic regimes; the view which emphasizes the idea that social-economic rights are indeed rights in the strict philosophical sense of the term, in addition to their role in ensuring the stability of democratic regimes.

Group II : Courses in Democracy (One Required)

DMHR 634: Theories of Transition to Democracy

An examination of the most important theories that deal with changes in political systems (elite pacts, rational choice, etc.). The course offers a comparative study of countries which have been successful in abolishing military, absolute monarchical, or totalitarian regimes. The aim is to arrive at an understanding of the operations which govern the process of transition to democracy, including the role of the economic system, the prevailing political culture, and international pressures for democratization. An attempt will be made to use concepts and principles derived from different theories in the study of specific cases of transition to democracy in Eastern Europe, the former Soviet Union, and Latin America. Recent experiences and experiments in democratization in Arab countries will also be discussed, as well as relations between democratization, development, modernization and globalization. The nature of social forces which can mobilize transitional processes, and the existence of such forces in the Arab World will also be discussed.

DMHR 635: History of Democracy

This course traces the development of democratic systems of government from the Greek period till the present, with special emphasis on main developments in modern times: the struggle between parliaments and monarchies in Europe of the 17th and 18th centuries the French Revolution, the American Revolution, democracy in the Arab world, in the countries of the periphery and the center. The course also seeks to relate development of democratic practices to intellectual development in the areas social and political philosophy. The historic role of mass movements, such as professional unions, women movements, and political parties will be discussed.

syllabus in Arabic

Group III : Courses in Human Rights (One Required)

DMHR 636: Theories of Human Rights

An examination of a number of topics that lie at the intersection of Law, Ethics, and Political Philosophy. These topics include (concepts of) rights and duties and their justification, different interpretations of justice, equality and freedom. The course discusses some of the important theories that deal with these concepts, such as Utilitarianism and Contractualism. Attention will also be paid to the notions of human action, identity, freedom of the will and choice, responsibility, and the way these notions can be made relevant to questions of public interest, civil rights, systems of punishment and rehabilitation, sex and racial discrimination, treatment of minorities, etc.

DMHR 637: Human Rights in Practice

This course addresses itself to mechanisms for the protection of human rights in the 20th century, with special emphasis on Post-World War II developments. Subjects dealt with include: the legal bases for the protection of human rights, the role of the UN and other international agencies, and NGOs, the relation between public opinion and the protection of human rights, the role of political parties, the press, and mass movements. The course also deals with the use of human rights as an instrument of foreign policy.

syllabus in Arabic

Group IV: Elective Courses in Democracy and Human Rights

DMHR 630: Political Theories

An examination of the major issues dealt with by classical political philosophers from the Greek Period to the present. The readings include selections from the writings of Plato, Aristotle, Farabi, Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau, Montesquieu, de Tocqueville, Mill, Marx, Burke, Rawls, Nozick, Habermas and others. Issues to be discussed include: philosophical justification of various types of government (Democracy, Anarchy, Totalitarianism), theories of the State and the Social Contract, the language of rights (its meaning, function and importance), the moral obligation to obey the law and the limits of obedience, minority rights, freedom (positive and negative), justice (formal and substantive), the state and civil society, different types of social system (capitalism, socialism, welfare state) with their associated concepts of justice and freedom, sources of political legitimacy, and civil disobedience.

syllabus in Arabic

DMHR 638: Democracy and Political Culture

This seminar shall discuss the relationship between democracy, both as a concept and as a concrete condition, and political culture. Among the topics to be explored are the manners by which political culture and democracy influence each other, and whether a casual relationship can be detected. Special attention shall be given to the relationship between the process of democratization and liberalization in the political, economic, and social spheres on the one hand, and political culture on the other. This seminar shall examine these themes in the context of developing countries, giving special attention to the Palestinian and Arab conditions.

DMHR 639: Research Methodologies

The course reviews methods and techniques of quantitative and qualitative research. It emphasizes on data management and organization, its critical analysis and presentation. The course serves as an introduction for the following issues: defining the entropy and the research subject or the thesis; the theoretical framework; literature review and relative innovation; determining assumptions and defining terms; building measurement tools; data collection tools; sample frames; data analysis; and paper writing and systemic presentation of data and results.

DMHR 730: Democracy in Modern Arab Thought

A study of modern Arab Thought which deals with concepts of democracy and democratic transitions in Arab countries. The course traces intellectual developments in these two areas during three periods: The Arab Renaissance, the Inter-War Period, and the Nasserist Period. The course dwells at length on current discussions of these subjects from the 1970's to the present.

DMHR 731:Democracy in the Modern Islamic Thought

A critical study of contemporary Islamic Thought on the relationship between Islam, Democracy and Human Rights. The course aims at analyzing the main topics around which the debate centered in the past two decades, with emphasis on such issues as liberties, rights, political pluralism, secularism, cultural specificity, modernity, reform movements, and the relation to Western Culture. The course will address the writings of several writers, including al-Turabi, Hanafi, Ghanoushi, Dhaher, Zalloum, al-Na'im, al-Azmeh, Bin Haj, Arkoun, al-Jabiri, Amarah, Shafik, al-Qardhawi, and others.

DMHR 732: Critiques of Democracy

A discussion of the various types of criticism of Democratic Theory and Practice. The course will examine in particular the following lines of criticism: Socialist, Feminist, Islamist, and Postmodernist. Democratist responses to criticism will also be examined, and an attempt will be made to form a view of the current state of the debate about Democracy.

DMHR 733: Civil Society

A discussion of the different ideas associated with the concept of civil society, their evolution, and their political uses. The history of concepts of civil society will be traced from Hegel to the present. The course dwells on the elements, institutions, conditions for the evolution of civil society, what lies within and without civil society. Other concepts to be dealt with in relation to civil society include: citizenship, democracy, nationalism, secularism, modernity, and others.

DMHR 734: Education for Democracy and Human Rights

A study of the meaning of Democracy and Human Rights as social values. The course discusses methods for developing and strengthening these values, and deals with democratization of education as well as education for democracy. Other subjects dealt with include: conceptual analysis of principles democracy and human rights, methods, philosophy, and aims of education, the relevance of concepts of democracy and human rights at home, in school and in society at large.

DMHR 735: Teaching Democracy and Human Rights

This course aims at training students in methods of teaching Democracy and human Rights. Subjects dealt with include: aims of teaching Democracy and Human rights, psychology of learning and a brief history of learning theories, planning classes in Democracy and Human rights at different levels, teaching methods and models, learning materials and resources, and evaluation of the processes of teaching and learning. The course also includes implementation of specific teaching projects, and the application of theories and concepts.

syllabus in Arabic

DMHR 736: Issues of Democracy and Human Rights in Arab Countries

A treatment of the basic theoretical and practical problems of democracy and human rights in Arab countries. The course focuses on socio-political arrangements, structures, and legislation aiming at the protection of human rights and liberties. In addition to dealing with the issue of colonialism and its aftermath with respect to the practice of democracy and human rights in the Arab World, the course will also discuss means of following up on developments in the areas of democracy and human rights. Particular attention will be given to the Palestinian situation.

syllabus in Arabic

DMHR 737: Human Rights and Current Law in Palestine

A critical study of existing law in Palestine from the perspective of Human Rights and their protection. The course offers a historical review of the development of law and legislation in Palestine, including legislative, administrative and penal codes.

DMHR 738: Democracy and Development

A study of the relationship between political systems and developmental processes, with special attention to theories which seek to link Democracy and Development to each other. The course will also discuss the history and evolution of different concepts of Development, and the circumstances that shaped their evolution. Other concepts and issues to be dealt within include: the notion of developmental discourse, sustainability, participation, rural development, woman in development, poverty elevation, and others. Special emphasis is to be placed on the study of development in Palestine.

syllabus in Arabic

DMHR 739: Special topic

An in-depth study of a special topic in the area of Democracy and/or Human Rights.

Group V: Requirements for Completion of Degree

DMHR 860: Thesis

The Thesis deals with a subject in the area of Democracy or Human Rights which is approved by the Program Council.
For Students Enrolled in Stream B (No Thesis):

DMHR 831: Seminar in Democracy

An advanced study of a thinker, subject, period, or school of thought in the area of Democracy.

DMHR 832: Seminar in Human Rights

An advanced study of a thinker, subject, period, or school of thought in the area of Human Rights.