伦敦政治经济学院

The MSc Human Rights and Politics provides a rigorous year-long academic engagement with critical political issues faced by international human rights today.

The programme covers the multiple challenges that human rights theory, institutions and activism are facing in the current period, a period during which many states, movements and political figures are turning towards populist nationalism and anti-minority discrimination. It introduces key problems with the foundations of human rights and considers the possibilities for new political foundations for human rights in a period of accelerating economic inequality and technological change.

Interdisciplinary in nature, it draws on sociology, political theory, political sociology and philosophy to investigate international human rights. The subject matter is international in scope. This master's is intended to appeal to those who want to study the politics of international human rights but who do not necessarily want to pursue a legal route to a human rights or related career.

The MSc Human Rights and Politics aims to equip you with interdisciplinary academic knowledge of the main challenges and problems affecting human rights theories, institutions, movements and practice in the world today. You will engage in a rigorous way with key human rights areas, including the many crises facing human rights thinking and human rights institutions. A key aim is to move away from explication of international law and the UN Charter Regime and concentrate on the sociology and politics of human rights in the world.

The programme links theoretical and empirical issues in human rights with political sociology and political philosophy using a variety of critical and analytical perspectives. Substantive themes covered in the programme may change from year to year, but indicative areas in the core course include: power and human rights institutions; the problems with foundations; the rise of authoritarian populism; wars and self-determination; cosmopolitanism and humanism; sex, gender and human rights; identity politics and human rights; human rights and the failures of liberalism; the threats to human rights; renewing human rights, justice and dignity. You will also undertake an independent graduate dissertation.

The programme is closely connected to LSE Human Rights in the Department of Sociology. In addition to research, LSE Human Rights runs a very active public events programme which includes public lectures, visiting speaker seminars and conferences involving world-leading human rights academics and practitioners. You will also benefit from masterclasses and guest practitioner seminars organised for students on the programme.

Careers

This programme provides an excellent foundation for a variety of academic and non-academic careers, including in: politics and government; foreign policy; human rights and related campaigning organisations; international and domestic human rights NGOs; development; civil liberties; welfare; work in specialised human rights agencies.