Politics of International Human Rights Law
Research Essay Questions (Choose 1)
Maximum length 2500 words excluding references

1. Is torture a violation of human rights that can never be justified? Substantiate your argument with discussion of relevant examples.

2. ‘International refugee law is designed to protect the political interests of states, rather than the human rights of refugees.’ Do you agree?

3. ‘Implementation of the Responsibility to Protect norm has been guided by politicised interests rather than human dignity and rights, bringing its legitimacy into question.’ Do you agree?

4. ‘Although the International Criminal Court is intended to punish crimes against humanity, war crimes and genocide, in practice it has become an instrument of Western interference in the developing world.’ Discuss, referencing the court’s history in your response.

Introduction (example above):
1. What the paper is about? Restate the question in a way that resolves any ambiguities:
“The key question addressed is…”
2. Explains the logic of the argument / Outline your central argument. “This essay will argue that…because… (summarise the logic of your argument here).
3. Outlines the structure of the essay/ Map the essay structure. “E.g., First I will assess X, then I will explore Y and finally I will demonstrate…”

Body:
1. Three-part structure: Intro; Body; Conclusion.
2. Assess the underlying issues and interpret material in response to the question
3. Put forward an argument/ take a position (agree/disagree), do not sit on the fence
4. Do not just summarise the reading.
5. Explain why you have taken that position.
6. Balance, by raising and assessing opposing perspectives. Acknowledge weaknesses in your case (and rebut them to good effect).
7. Set out arguments in your own words. Every paragraph should help advance your argument.
8. Evidence: what examples support your case; how can you make best use of them.
9. Avoid:
a. blanket absolute claims;
b. Platitudes and cliches;
c. Polemics;
d. Nominalizations (nouns derived from verbs –e.g. investigation from investigate)

References:
1. Harvard referencing, more than 15 references
2. Sources must be academic sources such as journal articles, books, papers.