Democracy and Human Rights _various lectures_

							Democracy and Human Rights Lecture outline
Questions / Issues to consider for Group Discussion:
1. Discuss your reaction to “What are Human Rights” video and School of the Americas” video – & do you see any
     connections to readings?.
2. What are some of the basic Human Rights (Individual & Social) & which do you think are most important? (UN
    web rdg.) Give examples from readings in which they are violated or upheld.
3. Why are migrants dying along the U.S.-Mexico border, and how many are dying/year (Nevins ch.1)? How might
    this be related to Human Rights?
4. How does growing private economic power in corporations affect democracy?? How are rights viewed by
    corporations? Democratic? What are the “free market” and “big government” myths? What is the managerial elite
    & their assumptions? (Riech rdg #46 in Charon & Vigilant)
5. What is the role of Organizations (e.g., governments, security forces, banks, corporations, etc.) in Human Rights
    Problems? (examples in web rdgs.: Earth Island Journal; Corn et al.; & Milbank et al; Galbriath et al.; Doyle et al.;
    Alexander & Rose)
6. What are some contradictions between US Ideals and US Practices in US Foreign Policy (Web rdgs: Galbraith et al.;
    Milbank et al., Doyle et al., Alexander & Rose)
           What’s wrong with using torture as method of interrogation? Morally, Legally, Politically, Pragmatically
               (does it work)? (Alexander & Rose; Doyle et al.; Simmons)
7. Why can’t the US go it alone in the world? Why does the US need other nations? What does Nye (web rdg.) think should
    be the role of Human Rights in deciding when & how the US should intervene in humanitarian crises, and how should
    US best promote democracy? (Nye)
8. How can Human Rights be enforced / upheld? (Nye; Simmons; Corn et al.)


Lecture (& some overlap with group discussion points):
Showed video “What are Human Rights” (a brief historical overiew)
Raised issues of : Enforceability of Human Rights and Accountability, & H. Rts as Struggle and Advocacy

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

Democracy -- Economic Inequality vs. Political Equality, and how wealthy influence poltics
       See Reich rdg. (C& V #46) “Corporations as Invisible Govt.” for problems with this…

Views on Rights (drawing on Web rdgs: Universal Declaration of H Rts.; Corn, et al.; Nevins book, & other stuff I add
not in rdgs.)
     Nationalist View (civil rights) Vs. Human Rights Perspective
         Several key features of each view, compare – Nation-state defined rts. Vs. H. Rts Universal, etc.
               --Natl. Sovereignty vs. H Rts conflict: Border Crossing deaths of immigrants (Nevins ch. 1) & why people
                        come as Human Rights example vs. Natlist. perspective…
            -- H. Rts. Enforceability? (Corn et al., and Simmons web rdgs) & Other uses Education, advocacy, etc….

Showed brief “School of the Americas” Video as eample of Human Rights problem in US Foreign Policy in Latin
America- Gave a bit of background on issues in SOA video (Cold War, History of US relations with Latin America)

Democracy , Human Rights & US Foreign Policy
    “Realists” Vs. “Idealists” in US Foreign Policy– (details of each position) – Nye web rdg.
        “National Interests” Vs. Democ. & H. Rts. in US Foreign policy – Nye web rdg.
     Post Sept 11 realization about who is best and reliable allies, & who is not. Importance of Democracy & H. Rts.
             Lots of examples of US foreign relations based on Natl. Interests instead of H Rts & Democ. (draw on
             Galbraith,; Kessler & Wright; Milbank & Goodman; EIJ; Doyle et al.; web rdgs. as well as extra
             examples I add on Bin-laden, etc.)
    2 contradictory Views of US in World Abroad
2 Models of Politics (Domestic –US):
Pluralist Model Vs. Power Elite Model
    In general, key features & how do they differ on their view on how political power is distributed?
    [Also, you should be able to tell which of these models best fits wuith Reich’s rdg. #46 ideas.]


Reich (Rdg. #46 in Ch. & Vig.) On Power of Corporations Vs. Other forces (Govt., Unions, Sm Bus, etc.)
             -- Corp. Managerial elite -- “Free Mkt” Myth Vs “Big Govt” myth -- Profit s. other Soc. Goals
             -- Corporate view of Rights, and Corporations compared to democracy norms
             -- Corporations Authoritarian, not democratic, no Bill of Rights applies…
        Power of Corporations & Govt assistance of (rather than regulation of)


& Also study Group Discussion Points brought up by group leaders Esp.:
    US Foreign Rhetoric vs,. Practice – US Hypocrisy at times… (Galbriath et al. web rdg.)
             o Torture – Us involvement in, and Questions re: effectiveness (Alexander & Rose; Doyle et al.
                 web rdghs.
    Immigration & Border deaths as border enforcement has increased – as human rights problem & lack of
        visas. (Nevins Ch. 1)
    Authoritarian nature of corporations, not democratic (Reich rdg. #46 in Charon and Vigilant)



Other things to know but not mentioned in class (or not much)
       Human Rights & War on Terrorism (Doyle et al. web reading) what generally is going on re: H Rts in this
        war?
       Why can’t the US go it alone? (Nye web rdg.)
       Limits on power & need for intl cooperation on many issues…
       & E. Timor & Human Rights tragedy & US role (Milbank et al. web rdg.)