FORMAT and SCHEDULE

The Institute will be divided into four sections that address different aspects of human rights in conflict: (1) philosophical and historical; (2) legal; (3) cultural, and (4) political. Each of the first three sections occupy one week and will focus on principal conflicts about human rights viewed from these intellectual perspectives. Since the last section most directly evidences human rights in conflict, it will last two weeks. The order of the sections serves to integrate the various intellectual perspectives that inform our understanding of human rights. A distinguished guest will offer a talk to participants on the first three mornings of the four formal meeting days of each of the five weeks of the institute. The sessions are designed to be a learning experience for all involved. In addition, every speaker will be available for personal exchanges with participants–especially with those whose projects converge with the speaker’s area of expertise. After the morning session, the guest and participants are invited to have lunch together.

* ALL SESSIONS TAKE PLACE in ROOM 6495, 9a.m.-12p.m., UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED *

A set of selected readings for each week is available in the "Members Only" section.

WEEK 1 -- HISTORY, THEORY, PRACTICE

June 26 (Monday)

Introductions (Director & Staff; Members);
Introductory and Thematic Notes
Professor John R. Wallach
(Political Science, Hunter College and The Graduate Center–CUNY)

5-7 p.m.
RECEPTION--Members, Institute Principals, Friends & Family
The Skylight Room, 9th Floor GC

June 27 (Tuesday)

"Roots and Branches: The Setting of Human Rights in Conflict"
Professor Paul Gordon Lauren
(History, University of Montana)

June 28 (Wednesday)

"Historical Controversies and Human Rights"
Professor Micheline Ishay
(Graduate School of International Studies, University of Denver)

June 29 (Thursday)

"Rights as Tools of Change: A Relational Approach to their potential and limitations"
Professor Jennifer Nedelsky
(Law and Political Science , University of Toronto)

June 30 (Friday)

"The UN and Human Rights: Conference Room Diplomacy and Beyond"
Ms. Felice Gaer
(Director, Jacob Blaustein Institute for the Advancement of Human Rights)

WEEK II -- LEGAL AND NORMATIVE DIMENSIONS

July 3 (Monday)

"Judging History: Evaluating the Historical Accounts
of Human Violations Produced by Tribunals and Commissions"
Professor Richard A. Wilson
(Human Rights/Anthropology, University of Connecticut)

July 4 (Tuesday)

Independence Day (National Holiday)

July 5 (Wednesday)

"Human Rights in Theory and Practice: The Hypocrisy Factor" [tentative]
Mr. Kenneth Roth
(Executive Director, Human Rights Watch)

July 6 (Thursday)

"Human Rights and the Rights of Others"
Professor Seyla Benhabib
(Philosophy and Political Science, Yale University)

July 7 (Friday)

"Sovereignty, Human Rights, and Liberal Legal Culture"
Professor Paul W. Kahn
(Yale Law School)

WEEK III -- CULTURAL CONFLICT AND HUMAN RIGHTS

July 10 (Monday)

"Human Rights and Democracy: Tensions and Illusions"
(with special reference to the Global South)
Professor Makau Mutua
(Buffalo Law School)

July 11 (Tuesday)

"Islam and 'Universal' Human Rights?
Power and the Politics of Cultural Authenticity"
Professor Roxanne Euben
(Political Science, Wellesley College)

July 12 (Wednesday)

"Asian Perspectives of Human Rights: Translation or Expression?"
Dr. Joanne Bauer
Author, Consultant
(formerly of Carnegie Endowment of International Affairs)

July 13 (Thursday)

"Current Trends in Human Rights and Basic Needs in the Americas"
Professor Margaret Crahan
(History, Hunter College and The Graduate Center–CUNY)

July 14 (Friday)

Human Rights and the Media
Professor Thomas Keenan
(Comparative Literature/Human Rights, Bard College)
Ms. Elizabeth Rubin [unconfirmed]
(Contributing Writer, The New York Times Magazine)

WEEKS IV-V -- HUMAN RIGHTS AND THE POLITICAL

WEEK IV -- HUMAN RIGHTS AND POLITICAL POWER

July 17 (Monday)

"Human Rights, Democracy, and Freedom: Three Very Different Projects" Professor Jack Donnelly
(Graduate School of International Studies, University of Denver)

July 18 (Tuesday)

"Democratization and Human Rights”
(w/special reference to eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union)
Professor Margot Light
(International Relations, London School of Economics & Political Science)

July 19 (Wednesday)

"Beyond Humanitarian Intervention:
Human Rights and Global Society"
Professor Michael Walzer
(School of Social Science, Institute for Advanced Study)

July 20 (Thursday)

Presentations I

July 21 (Friday)

Presentations II

WEEK V -- HUMAN RIGHTS AND POLITICAL RECONCILIATION

July 24 (Monday)

Narratives of Human Rights and Wrongs
morning -- "Lingering Memories of Genocide:
Truth and Human Rights in 21st Century Guatemala"
Professor Victoria Sanford
(Anthropology, Lehman College-CUNY)

Afternoon -- "Writing Towards Hope:
The Literature of Human Rights in Latin America"
Professor Marjorie Agosin
(Spanish, Wellesley College)

July 25 (Tuesday)

"Human Rights and Humanitarianism:
A Politics of Justice vs. A Politics of Compassion"
Professor Miriam Ticktin
(Anthropology/Women's Studies, University of Michigan)

July 26 (Wednesday)

"Human Rights: Making History or Making Peace?
When Should Prosecution Give Way to Favor Peace"
Professor Martha Minow
(Harvard Law School)

July 27 (Thursday)

Presentations III

July 28 (Friday)

Presentations IV

5-7 p.m. CLOSING PARTY -- Metro Hotel rooftop bar. (35th Street between 5th/6th.)