Foundation Seminar Options

• Instructors: Professor Cymone Fourshey, history; Professor Ron Smith, international relations: The Empire of Human Rights

  In the second half of the 2010s, violence, instability and political strife dominate popular media. Numerous states appear on the brink of collapse, and many observers are befuddled by an apparent lack of clear leadership on human rights, foreign policy, multilateral cooperation, and a host of other issues. This course puts the instability and perils of contemporary politics in historical, geographical and sociological context, providing some structure for students who are alarmed by the apparent dystopia revealed in social media and popular news.

  Interested in global issues? Curious about human rights? This course critically engages and challenges assumptions about human rights and justice in the global arena, and brings critical analysis to the topic, while also addressing humanitarian rights regimes.