Human Rights Compliance and Democratic Transition of the countries of Central and Eastern Europe in the case law of the European Court of Human Rights (5op)

Osaamistavoitteet

The students will learn about the ECHR standards of human rights protection. They will also learn to analyze the developments of national public policies in historical context and in comparative
perspective.

Sisältö

The multi-disciplinary lecture course will discuss the issues of democratic transition of the countries of Central and Eastern Europe (CEE states) that have been reflected in the case law of European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) since the accession of these countries to the European Convention on
Human Rights (ECHR). The course will give a comparative overview of the case law of the ECtHR regarding compliance of the CEE states with the ECHR standards of human rights protection.

It will also include three case studies of policy areas that are crucial for understanding of compliance of
transitional policies with the ECHR (the judicial system, welfare policies, and restitution and privatization policies and their economic and social consequences).
The lectures will cover the following topics:
1) The history and impacts of the accession of the CEE states to the ECHR.
2) Overview of the CEE states’ compliance with the ECHR standards.
3) Structural problems in the judicial systems of the CEE states.
4) Reforms in the welfare sector.
5) Effects of restitution and privatization on the security of property rights.

Oppimateriaalit

The required reading is comprised of academic literature such as books and journal articles and relevant case law of the European Court of Human Rights. The list of recommended literature will be distributed to the registered students before the course.

Lisätiedot

In the 2024–2025 and 2025-2025 academic year, the course is funded by the nationwide Expertise in Russian and Eastern European Studies (ExpREES) programme coordinated by the Aleksanteri Institute. The course is organized in a hybrid form, on-site and online.

Students of the University of Lapland can choose to follow the course on-site or online. The ExpREES students can fully participate in the lectures via live streaming.

Toteutustavat

Lecture course

Suoritustavat

Lectures (16h). Written home examination based on the lectures and recommended literature. The questions of the home exam will be given after the lecturing course is over.