CRI483H1

Human Rights and the Postcolonial Condition

This course examines the role of courts in shaping democratic, social, and cultural zones within the Commonwealth Caribbean by protecting and enforcing human rights. It explores the colonial legacy, the rise of democratic values, and the ongoing challenges to neocolonial narratives, including legal contestations around freedom of expression, discrimination, and inhuman punishment. Focusing on constitutional formalism within the Westminster system, the course analyzes the neo-colonial state’s historical tendencies, obstacles to democratic growth, and the courts’ activist role in expanding rights for workers, minorities, and marginalized groups. Through case studies from the Commonwealth Caribbean, students will gain critical insights into the intersection of law, culture, politics, and power, while exploring the broader implications for global democratic struggles and human rights advocacy.