Ethical Problems in Globalization: Governance, Multiculturalism and Paternalistic Intervention: course descripion
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Wilhelm Vossenkuhl, Ludwig Maximilians Universitaet
Globalization obviously is not limited to the economic realm. It goes far beyond and is gradually concerning all areas of human life. Human rights and normative claims such as women and minority rights are still not guaranteed in many societies. The internationalization and globalization of these rights and claims is sponsored by the UN and also by some of the most powerful nations. The ways these claims are supported are not limited to diplomacy, political cooperation, recommendation and persuasion. The use of power even across the borders of states has become a real option in international politics.
Humanitarian interventions, i.e., the use of military power and/or economic sanctions in order to stop the violation of human rights in sovereign states are not only discussed in theory but happen in practice. Global authorities like, e.g., the UN, or international military organizations like, e.g., NATO, have been recommending or participating in some of the interventions, which could be observed within the last decade. Kosovo and Iraq are the most prominent examples of humanitarian interventions so far with obvious problems.
Humanitarian interventions not only happen across the borders of sovereign states but also inside states if, e.g., religious, racial or social problems from multiculturalism arise within societies. Examples are to be found in almost all western democracies where these problems are addressed and openly discussed. This is not the case in authoritarian states where multicultural problems are often “solved” by means of ethnic cleansing or other violations of human rights.
The course will first of all clarify the normative basis of the globalization of human rights and of humanitarian interventions. Do human rights per se legitimate their validity across ethnic and religious borderlines? One of the major problems here is, whether any type of paternalism, i.e., intervention for the good of a people or society independent from their own will, is to be legitimated. Paternalism will therefore be one of the core problems of the course. Different types of paternalism – soft and hard – will be discussed by use of examples of the type mentioned.
The type of tuition and training is twofold. Each student is asked to prepare at least four oral accounts for the weekly topics and again four short essays. The subjects of the essays may but must not coincide with the oral contributions. The essays will be discussed in tutorials, which are offered individually. Both, the oral performances and the essays will be marked. These marks will ad up to the final grade. There will be no final exam.
Humanitarian interventions, i.e., the use of military power and/or economic sanctions in order to stop the violation of human rights in sovereign states are not only discussed in theory but happen in practice. Global authorities like, e.g., the UN, or international military organizations like, e.g., NATO, have been recommending or participating in some of the interventions, which could be observed within the last decade. Kosovo and Iraq are the most prominent examples of humanitarian interventions so far with obvious problems.
Humanitarian interventions not only happen across the borders of sovereign states but also inside states if, e.g., religious, racial or social problems from multiculturalism arise within societies. Examples are to be found in almost all western democracies where these problems are addressed and openly discussed. This is not the case in authoritarian states where multicultural problems are often “solved” by means of ethnic cleansing or other violations of human rights.
The course will first of all clarify the normative basis of the globalization of human rights and of humanitarian interventions. Do human rights per se legitimate their validity across ethnic and religious borderlines? One of the major problems here is, whether any type of paternalism, i.e., intervention for the good of a people or society independent from their own will, is to be legitimated. Paternalism will therefore be one of the core problems of the course. Different types of paternalism – soft and hard – will be discussed by use of examples of the type mentioned.
The type of tuition and training is twofold. Each student is asked to prepare at least four oral accounts for the weekly topics and again four short essays. The subjects of the essays may but must not coincide with the oral contributions. The essays will be discussed in tutorials, which are offered individually. Both, the oral performances and the essays will be marked. These marks will ad up to the final grade. There will be no final exam.
