The white scarf of the Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo. The Mothers are an association of Argentine women whose children "disappeared" during the "Dirty War" of the military dictatorship between 1976 and 1983. (Image courtesy of puroticorico on flickr. License CC BY.)
Instructor(s)
Prof. Erica James
MIT Course Number
21A.442J / WGS.270J
As Taught In
Fall 2014
Level
Undergraduate
Course Description
Course Description
This course examines the problem of mass violence and oppression in the contemporary world, and the concept of human rights as a defense against such abuse. It explores questions of cultural relativism, race, gender and ethnicity. It examines case studies from war crimes tribunals, truth commissions, anti-terrorist policies and other judicial attempts to redress state-sponsored wrongs. It also considers whether the human rights framework effectively promotes the rule of law in modern societies. Students debate moral positions and address ideas of moral relativism.
