50 Public and International Affairs
Conflict Studies and Human Rights (ECH)
Contemporary Issues in Human Rights Law∗
Edited by Yumiko Nakanishi (Hitotsubashi University)
2018
Licence: CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 (Note: assigning sections is permitted, but adaptations are not allowed without permission)
This book analyzes issues in human rights law from a variety of perspectives by eminent European and Asian professors of constitutional law, international public law, and European Union law.
As a result, their contributions collected here illustrate the phenomenon of cross-fertilization not only in Europe (the EU and its member states and the Council of Europe), but also between Europe and Asia. Furthermore, it reveals the influence that national and foreign law, EU law and the European Convention on Human Rights, and European and Asian law exert over one another.
The various chapters cover general fundamental rights and human rights issues in Europe and Asia as well as specific topics regarding the principles of nondiscrimination, women’s rights, the right to freedom of speech in Japan, and China’s Development Banks in Asia.
Protection of human rights should be guaranteed in the international community, and research based on a comparative law approach is useful for the protection of human rights at a higher level.
As the product of academic cooperation between ten professors of Japanese, Taiwanese, German, Italian, and Belgian nationalities, this work responds to such needs. (Description from publisher Springer)
Formats: PDF and EPUB
Suggested for:
ECH 1100 Introduction to the Study of Conflicts and Human Rights
Forced Migration in Canada 
Christina Clark-Kazak (University of Ottawa)
2024
Licence: CC BY-NC 4.0
Forced Migration in Canada is intended to be a comprehensive repository of teaching and learning resources related to displacement to, and in, Canada, from colonization and slavery, to trafficking, statelessness and refugee protection and resettlement. Each section offers a compilation of multimedia resources to introduce students, researchers and the general public to the key issues.
Format: Pressbooks webbook
Suggested for:
ECH 3310 Current Problems in International Human Rights
ECH 4330 Forced Migration
Navigating the Space Between Us∗
Robert Gould (Portland State University)
2021
Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
Navigating the Space Between Us – Finding Connection, while Embracing the Continua of Difference: A Dilemma Driven Conflict Analysis was developed as an upper division undergraduate textbook for a conflict resolution CR 310U Values and Ethics course (required for a PSU bachelor’s degree in CR) and adaptable to a conflict resolution CR 513 graduate course (required for PSU master’s degree in CR). Its intended audience are students from Portland State University enrolled in a ten week, quarter system, though it is adaptable for a semester length course. The chapters are combined with other readings on conflict resolution values and ethics. This open access textbook may be used to supplement resources for other courses that address aspects of conflict resolution values and ethics.
Formats: Pressbooks webbook, PDF and EPUB
Suggested for:
ECH 4320 Conflict Resolution and Peace Building
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights in the 21st Century: A Living Document in a Changing World∗
Edited by Gordon Brown (Global Citizenship Commission)
2016
Licence: CC BY 4.0
This peer-reviewed open textbook offers a 21st-century commentary on the original Universal Declaration of Human Rights document, furthering the work of human rights and illuminating the ideal of global citizenship. It covers concepts in the UDHR, from the conception of the UDHR to the implementation of human rights.
The Global Citizenship Commission was convened, under the leadership of former British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and the auspices of NYU’s Global Institute for Advanced Study, to re-examine the spirit and stirring words of The Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The result – this volume – offers a 21st-century commentary on the original document, furthering the work of human rights and illuminating the ideal of global citizenship. What does it mean for each of us to be members of a global community? Since 1948, the Declaration has stood as a beacon and a standard for a better world. Yet the work of making its ideals real is far from over. Hideous and systemic human rights abuses continue to be perpetrated at an alarming rate around the world. Too many people, particularly those in power, are hostile to human rights or indifferent to their claims. Meanwhile, our global interdependence deepens. Bringing together world leaders and thinkers in the fields of politics, ethics, and philosophy, the Commission set out to develop a common understanding of the meaning of global citizenship – one that arises from basic human rights and empowers every individual in the world. This landmark report affirms the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and seeks to renew the 1948 enterprise, and the very ideal of the human family, for our day and generation.
Formats: Online and PDF
Includes: Glossary
Suggested for:
ECH 1100 Introduction to the Study of Conflicts and Human Rights
Public and International Affairs (API)
Advanced Energy Policy (EME 803)∗
Brandi Robinson (Pennsylvania State University)
Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
Energy policy is typically evolutionary as opposed to revolutionary. We can look to historical policies to understand how we’ve inherited the policies governing our energy use today. But looking backward only tells us part of the story. In the face of climate change, we need to look ahead and instead envision a more revolutionary change to our energy systems and the policies that govern them. This class takes you on that journey to energy policies past, present, and future. We look at the political realities of addressing climate change at various scales of governance and work together to craft our own ideal scenarios of what a responsible energy future will be.
Formats: Website and HTML files downloadable as a .zip file (after completing the “Course Download Questionnaire”)
Suggested for:
API 6316 Climate and Environmental Policy
Human Security in World Affairs: Problems and Opportunities (2nd Edition)∗
Edited by Alexander Lautensach and Sabina Lautensach (University of Northern British Columbia)
2020
Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
This first and only university textbook of human security, intended as an introductory text from senior undergraduate level up, and includes chapters by 24 authors that encompass the full spectrum of disciplines contributing to the human security field. It is based on the four-pillar model of socio-political security, economic security, environmental security and health security. The chapters include learning outcomes, extension activities, and suggested readings; a comprehensive glossary lists key terms used throughout the book. This textbook can be used in courses on international studies and relations, political studies, history, human geography, anthropology and human ecology, futures studies, applied social studies, public health, and more.
Formats: Pressbooks webbook, EPUB, MOBI, and PDF
Suggested for:
API 6329 Fragile States and Security
International Relations∗
Edited by Stephen McGlinchey (E-International Relations)
2017
Licence: CC BY-NC 4.0
The perfect book to get you started, or get caught back up, with International Relations. As a ‘Day 0’ beginner’s guide, this textbook condenses the most important information into the smallest space and present concepts in an accessible way. The chapters build up the foundations for understanding how the world works and then explore the key global issues that concern the discipline – taking readers from no knowledge to competency. The journey starts by examining how the international system was formed and ends by reflecting that International Relations is always adapting to events and is therefore a never-ending journey of discovery. The book is designed to capture attention with an engaging narrative that places the reader inside crucial issues and debates so they can understand how things work, and where they fit in the world around them.
Format: PDF
Reviews: Open Textbook Library
Suggested for:
API 5105 Concepts and Issues in International Affairs
International Relations Theory∗
Edited by Stephen McGlinchey, Rosie Walters, and Christian Scheinpflug (E-International Relations)
2017
Licence: CC BY-NC 4.0
This text covers introductory concepts in political science. It covers concepts in political science, from constructivism to postcolonialism. This book is designed as a foundational entry point to International Relations theory – structured to condense the most important information into the smallest space and present that information in an accessible manner. The first half of the book covers the theories that are most commonly taught in undergraduate programs. The book then expands to present emerging approaches and offer wider perspectives. Each chapter sets out the basics of a theory whilst also applying it to a real-world event or issue, creating a lively, readable and relevant guide that will help students to see not only what theories are – but why they matter.
Formats: PDF
Reviews: Open Textbook Library
Suggested for:
API 5105 Concepts and Issues in International Affairs
API 5135 Ethics and Moral Reasoning for Public and International Affairs
Vulnerable: The Law, Policy and Ethics of COVID-19∗
Edited by Colleen M. Flood (University of Ottawa), Vanessa MacDonnell (University of Ottawa), Jane Philpott (Queen’s University), Sophie Thériault (University of Ottawa), and Sridhar Venkatapuram (King’s College London)
2020
Licence: CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 (Note: assigning sections is permitted, but adaptations are not allowed without permission)
Vulnerable: The Law, Policy and Ethics of COVID-19 confronts the vulnerabilities that have been revealed by the pandemic and its consequences. It examines vulnerabilities for people who have been harmed or will be harmed by the virus directly and those harmed by measures taken to slow its relentless march; vulnerabilities exposed in our institutions, governance, and legal structures; and vulnerabilities in other countries and at the global level where persistent injustices affect us all. COVID-19 has forced us to not only reflect on how we govern and how we set policy priorities, but also to ensure that pandemic preparedness, precautions, and recovery include all individuals, not just some. (Description from UO Press)
Format: PDF
Suggested for:
API 6342 Global Health Governance
