Torture. - David L. Richards

Torture.
HRTS 3428 / POLS 3428
Mon/Wed/Fri 11:15am – 12:05pm
Laurel Hall 107
Professor:
Office:
Office Hours:
Email:
TA:
Dr. David L. Richards
Oak Hall 448
Mon/Wed/Fri 2:30pm-3:30pm
Appointments are available in 15-minute increments and are to be made in advance via
ADVAPP (http://www.advapp.uconn.edu/), where I am listed under Political Science.
[email protected]
Ms. Alyssa Webb [email protected]
Office Hours in Oak 407: Mon: 3:00pm-4:00pm, Wed: 12:30pm - 2:30pm or by apt
2
REQUIRED BOOKS:
The Question
Henri Alleg
Bison Books
978-0803259607
Evil Men
James Dawes
Harvard University Press
978-0674072657
Violence Workers: Police Torturers and Murderers Reconstruct Brazilian Atrocities
Martha Huggins, Mika Haritos-Fatouros, and Philip Zimbardo
University of California Press
978-0520234475
The Phenomenon of Torture: Readings and Commentary William F. Schulz, ed.
University of Pennsylvania Press
978-0812219821
Prisoner without a Name, Cell without a Number
Jacobo Timmerman
University of Wisconsin Press
978-0299182441
GRADED COMPONENTS
Three Exams (33, 33, and 34% @):
You will be given three exams that will test your knowledge of class materials and your ability to use
them to think critically about issues germane to the course.1
1
I will not give a makeup exam to persons who have chosen to go on vacation or get married during the semester,
schedule a job or grad school interview during class, or for any other reason except those allowed under the policy
stated on page 6 of this syllabus under “Makeup Exams”.
3
FAQ
1. Q: May I ask you a question?
A: Yes.
2. Q: Where do I find the non-book readings?
A: They are available at http://tinyurl.com/UConnTortureClass and at the URLs listed in the course
schedule
3. Q: Is there a HuskyCT section for this class?
A: No. Using Husky CT is torture.
4. Q: Is Kansas really flatter than a pancake?
A: Yes. http://www.improbable.com/airchives/paperair/volume9/v9i3/kansas.html
5. Q: There is a &*$##@@ LOT of reading! How am I supposed to do all of this?
A: Part of the professionalization aspect of the course is learning the skill of efficiently filtering large
amounts of material for what’s truly important. My best advice is probably not what you want to
hear: don’t save readings for the last minute. Read a few minutes whenever you get a chance -those minutes add up.
6. Q: Are the readings in the course schedule listed in the order we’ll be addressing them this
semester?
A: Yes.
7. Q: You are a little eccentric and, often, I don’t know whether you are kidding. Are you kidding?
A: Nope.
8. Q: If there are no firm dates on the course schedule for readings, how do I know what I should be
reading?
A: See #6.
9. Q: But #6 only helps if I know what we are reading right now.
A: Welcome to a great reason to come to class.
10. Q: Wait… were you just kidding back there in #7?
A: Yes.
4
CLASS SCHEDULE:
1. ALL DATES ARE APPROXIMATE (B/C SNOW, ILLNESS, CLASS’ DISPOSITION, ETC)
2. READINGS IN EACH SECTION ARE LISTED IN THE ORDER THEY ARE TO BE READ.
3. Link to Readings on OneDrive (such readings are listed as [OD] below):
http://tinyurl.com/UConnTortureClass
1/21
Welcome to the course.
I.
Historical Torture [1/23-2/13]
• Lincoln: “An Ancient Case of Interrogation and Torture.” Social Analysis [OD]
• Bernstein: “‘Torture Her Until She Lies’: Torture, Testimony, And Social Status In Roman
Rhetorical Education.” Greece & Rome [OD]
• Schulz: Chpt 1, Readings 1 & 3
• Einolf: “The Fall and Rise of Torture: A Comparative and Historical Analysis.” Sociological
Theory [OD]
• Schulz: Chpt 1, Readings 5 & 8
II.
How Prevalent is Torture Now? [2/16-2/20]
• CIRI Human Rights Data Project Training Manual for Torture [OD]
• Conrad, Haglund, and Moore: “Torture Allegations as Events Data: Introducing the IllTreatment and Torture (ITT) Specific Allegation Data” [OD]
• Amnesty International. Annual Report 2013.
o http://tinyurl.com/lalhk4n [Do a Ctrl-F for “torture” and just read through a bit to
get a feel for how it is described in this report.]
• US Department of State. “Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2013”
o http://tinyurl.com/6sgb4wd [Pick a few countries from the “Countries/Regions”
blue pulldown menu and look at Section 1.(c.) c. Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman,
or Degrading Treatment or Punishment to get a feel for how torture is described in
this report.]
EXAM #1 [2/23]
III.
Torture and Modern Law [2/25 – 3/11]
Basic Instruments
•
•
•
•
•
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948) [Article 5]
Geneva Convention (III) Relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War (1949) [Article
3(1)(a)(c)]
The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (1966) [Article 7]
The Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or
Punishment (1984)
Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading
Treatment or Punishment (2002)
Continued…
5
General Regional Instruments
•
•
•
•
European Convention on Human Rights (1950) [Section I, Article 3]
The American Convention on Human Rights (1978) [Article 5(2)]
African Charter on Human and People’s Rights (1981) [Article 5]
Arab Charter on Human Rights (2004) [Article 8]
Torture-Specific Regional Instruments
•
•
Inter-American Convention To Prevent And Punish Torture (1985)
The Robbin Island Guidelines: Resolution On Guidelines and Measures for the Prohibition
and Prevention of Torture, Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment In Africa
(2002)
The International Criminal Court
•
IV.
Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (1998) [Article 7(1)(f)(k); Article 8
(2)(a)(ii)(iii), 2(c)(i)(ii)]
The Experience of Torture [3/13-3/30]
• Timmerman: Prisoner without a Name, Cell without a Number
• Alleg: The Question
• Schulz: Chpt 2: All readings
• DoD Human Resource Exploitation Training Manual (1983) (“Coercive Techniques” Sections
L-8 through L-17) [Part 2, OD]
• Quiroga & Jaranson: “Politically-Motivated Torture and Its Survivors” International
Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims (Pgs 11-31) [OD]
• Prip & Persson: “Clinical Findings in Men with Chronic Pain After Falanga Torture.”Clinical
Journal of Pain [OD]
EXAM #2 [4/1]
V.
Torturers [4/3-4/15]
• Huggins, Haritos-Fatouros, and Zimbardo :Violence Workers: Police Torturers and Murderers
Reconstruct Brazilian Atrocities
• Schulz: Chpt 3: All readings
• DoD Human Resource Exploitation Training Manual (1983) (“Qualifications of Chief
Importance to a Questioner” Sections D-0 through D-19) [Part 1, OD]
o Optional: KUBARK Manual: “VII. Planning the Counterintelligence Interrogation” (pp.
38-51) [OD]
• Carey, Benedict. 2014. “Architects of C.I.A. Interrogation Drew on Psychology to Induce
‘Helplessness’.” New York Times December 10.
o http://tinyurl.com/kzbbhpx
• Zimbardo: “Revisiting the Stanford Prison Experiment: a Lesson in the Power of Situation.”
The Chronicle of Higher Education [OD]
• Osofsky, Bandura, and Zimbardo: “The Role of Moral Disengagement in the Execution
Process.” Law and Human Behavior [OD]
• Dawes: Evil Men
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FILM: Death and the Maiden [4/17-4/22]
• Question Sheet [OD]
• New York Times. 2014. “Tortured by Psychologists and Doctors.” December 16.
o http://tinyurl.com/oc6jnf3
• Jadresic: “Doctors and Torture: An Experience as a Prisoner.” The Journal of Medical Ethics
[OD]
• Yardley, Jim. 2014. “Facing His Torturer as Spain Confronts Its Past.” New York Times April 6.
o http://tinyurl.com/o86vqof
VI.
Torture and Society [4/24-4/27]
• Richards, Morrill, & Anderson: “Some Psycho-Social Correlates of US Citizen Support for
Torture.” Nordic Journal of Human Rights [OD]
• Gronke, et. al.: “U.S. Public Opinion on Torture, 2001–2009.” P.S. [OD]
VII.
The Torture Report [4/29 – 5/1]
• Ashkenas, Fairfield, Keller, and Volpe. 2014. “7 Key Points from the CIA’s Torture Report”
New York Times December 9.
•
•
•
•
•
•
EXAM #3
o http://tinyurl.com/k23vfm9
Washington Post. 2014. “20 Key Findings about CIA Interrogations” December 9
o http://tinyurl.com/m6sfknk
Committee Against Torture. 2014. Concluding observations on the third to fifth periodic
reports of United States of America. (OD)
Apuzzo, Matt and James Risen. 2014. “C.I.A. First Planned Jails Abiding by U.S. Standards.”
New York Times December 10.
o http://tinyurl.com/kt6t9fq
FM 2-22.3(FM 34-52) Human Intelligence Collector Operations: (Part Two, Chapter 5,
Sections 5-74, 5-75, 5-76, 5-77; Appendix M) [OD]
Blakely: “Dirty Hands, Clean Conscience? The CIA Inspector General’s Investigation of
‘Enhanced Interrogation Techniques’ in the War on Terror and the Torture Debate.” Journal
of Human Rights [OD]
Senate Select Committee on Intelligence. 2014. “Committee Study of the Central
Intelligence Agency’s Detention and Interrogation Program.” December 3. [OD]
Wednesday, May 6 (10:30am-12:30pm)
7
CLASS RULES:
You neither have permission to record any sounds or images from or during class, nor to make publicly
available class notes or materials – complete, partial, or summarized -- for paid or unpaid access by any
other persons via any forum and/or via any medium.
Lateness
Habitual lateness to class is tremendously rude; it is unprofessional and disrespectful of other students
and of the professor. Habitual lateness to class is disruptive and will be handled as such.
Phones / Other Electronic Devices:
• Turn off the ringer of your phone/electronic devices BEFORE class begins. You will not be in trouble
for a single accident of forgetting to turn off your phone and having it ring in class -- once in a while,
everyone (including the professor) forgets to turn off his/her phone. So, if your phone rings in class,
please have the decency to turn it off and not let it ring and ring until the caller hangs up or
voicemail kicks in.
• Chronic cases of disruption via electronic devices will be referred to the Office of Student Services &
Advocacy.
• You MAY use a laptop/tablet, etc during lectures (but not during the Death & the Maiden movie)
o If the professor feels too much laptop activity is being devoted to non-course activities (e.g.,
texting, Facebook, Youtube, etc), permission to use laptops will be revoked.
• Use of earbuds/earphones is prohibited.
• NO electronic devices of any kind are to be powered up or on during an exam/quiz. Violation of this
rule will result in a zero on the exam/quiz.
• NO electronic devices of any kind are to be visible during an exam/quiz. Violation of this rule will
result in a zero on the exam/quiz.
•
If you are caught using any kind of electronic device during an exam, you will automatically receive
a zero on the exam.
E-Mail:
You are responsible for checking your UCONN e-mail every day, especially before classes and exams.
Notices, important dates, reading changes, and the like will be announced via e-mail.
Communicating & Making Appointments With Me
E-mail is the single-best way to reach me. Also, because of my schedule’s complexity, if something
doesn’t exist on my Outlook calendar, it doesn’t exist. Be sure to use ADVAPP to make appointments.
Makeup Exams:
Makeup exams present severe equity problems for everyone involved in the course. Makeup exams will
ONLY be scheduled for those with DOCUMENTED medical, University-sanctioned activity, or direct
family member’s death- associated excuses. There are NO exceptions to the makeup exam rule. For
example, exams missed because of vacation, weddings, oversleeping, sickness not bad enough to get a
doctor’s excuse, etc, cannot be made up.
8
Assignment Lateness and Incompletes:
Assignments are due at the beginning of the assigned class period. The ONLY exception is for those with
a documented medical excuse or documented direct family member’s death. University-sanctioned
events and activities are planned in advance and, accordingly, do not qualify as valid justifications for
late work. For example, excuses such as “I couldn’t get my file off the library computer”, “I overslept,”
"The printer broke," "I ran out of toner," "The computer crashed", or any other, will not be accepted.
Late penalties begin accruing immediately after I have collected papers from all those in attendance at
the beginning of class, rounded up to the hour, at a penalty of 2 points per hour. Assignments more than
24 hours late will not be accepted for credit.
Academic Integrity
In this course we aim to conduct ourselves as a community of scholars, recognizing that academic study
is both an intellectual and ethical enterprise. You are encouraged to build on the ideas and texts of
others; that is a vital part of academic life. You are also obligated to document every occasion when you
use another’s ideas, language, or syntax. You are encouraged to study together, discuss readings outside
of class, share your drafts during peer review and outside of class, and go to the Writing Center with
your drafts. In this course, those activities are well within the bounds of academic honesty. However,
when you use another’s ideas or language—whether through direct quotation, summary, or
paraphrase—you must formally acknowledge that debt by signaling it with a standard form of academic
citation. Even one occasion of academic dishonesty, large or small, on any assignment, large or small,
will result in failure for the entire course and referral to Student Judicial Affairs. For University policies
on academic honesty, please see UConn’s Responsibilities of Community Life: The Student Code and the
Office of Community Standards: http://www.community.uconn.edu
Students With Disabilities
Please contact me during office hours to discuss academic accommodations that may be needed during
the semester due to a documented disability. The Center for Students with Disabilities (CSD) engages in
an interactive process with each student and reviews requests for accommodations on an individualized,
case-by-case basis. Depending on the nature and functional limitations of a student’s documented
disability, he/she may be eligible for academic accommodations. CSD collaborates with students and
their faculty to coordinate approved accommodations and services for qualified students with
disabilities. If you have a documented disability for which you wish to request academic
accommodations and have not contacted the CSD, please do so as soon as possible. The CSD is located
in Wilbur Cross, Room 204 and can be reached at (860) 486-2020 or at [email protected] . Detailed
information regarding the process to request accommodations is available on the CSD website at
www.csd.uconn.edu.
9
Policy Against Discrimination, Harassment and Inappropriate Romantic Relationships
The University is committed to maintaining an environment free of discrimination or discriminatory
harassment directed toward any person or group within its community – students, employees, or
visitors. Academic and professional excellence can flourish only when each member of our community
is assured an atmosphere of mutual respect. All members of the University community are responsible
for the maintenance of an academic and work environment in which people are free to learn and work
without fear of discrimination or discriminatory harassment. In addition, inappropriate Romantic
relationships can undermine the University’s mission when those in positions of authority abuse or
appear to abuse their authority. To that end, and in accordance with federal and state law, the
University prohibits discrimination and discriminatory harassment, as well as inappropriate Romantic
relationships, and such behavior will be met with appropriate disciplinary action, up to and including
dismissal from the University.
More information is available at http://policy.uconn.edu/?p=2884 .
Sexual Assault Reporting Policy
To protect the campus community, all non-confidential University employees (including faculty) are
required to report assaults they witness or are told about to the Office of Diversity & Equity under the
Sexual Assault Response Policy. The University takes all reports with the utmost seriousness. Please be
aware that while the information you provide will remain private, it will not be confidential and will be
shared with University officials who can help. More information is available at
http://sexualviolence.uconn.edu/ .
GRADE CALCULATION:
Your final grade will be calculated using the following formula:
FINAL GRADE = [.33 (Exam #1) + .33 (Exam #2)] + .34 (Exam #3)]
Final class grades will be assigned as such:
A
93-100
A90-92
B+
87-89
B
83-86
B80-82
C+
77-79
C
73-76
C70-72
D+
67-69
D
60-66
F
59 or below
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WHAT DOES AN “A,” “B,” “C,” etc., REALLY MEAN?
“A”
Excellent Student
• Provides points for discussion/debate which no one had thought of before
• Adds significant new insights into the topic at hand
• Asks pointed and challenging questions that stimulate other questions
• Stimulates critical thinking imaginative and realistic enthusiasm, interest and curiosity
• Brings in relevant outside experience related directly to discussions/material
• Persuasively argues a point and changes the opinions of classmates
• Displays logical outside-the-box thinking
• Solves problems from multiple perspectives
• Professional communication skills
• Intuitively understands and shares insights from “between the lines”
“B”
Good to Very Good Student
• Presents useful knowledge in depth clearly and concisely
• Will defend & debate a position when appropriate; respectfully challenges ideas when disagrees
• A good team player in small groups; constructive leader or facilitator
• Actively and consistently contributes information to a discussion
• States a point from the material, then develops its meaning in more detail
• Willing to ask questions when a point is unclear; comes up with supporting ideas
• Thinks between the lines; sees implications
• Logical, well documented recommendations
• Applies outside knowledge
• Plays “devil’s advocate” in a useful manner
“C”
Average Student
• Pays attention and offers supporting data to discussions
• Participates in small group discussions at the same level as others in the group
• Offers some thoughts, ideas, questions each class period
• Attentive listener and responds in a professional manner
• Has read the material for the day and is generally prepared for class
• Answers questions correctly when called upon
“D”
Below Average Student
• Repeats what has already been said in class
• Obviously not well prepared for the class
• Comments do not move analysis forward; doesn’t ask for help when needed
• Weak or incomplete notes; generally negative attitude
• Misses obvious points
• Limited participation in small group discussions
• Packs up to leave before the end of class
• Demonstrates a lack of understanding of material
“F”
Poor Student
• Does not participate in classroom discussion or small group discussion
• Talking to neighbors during presentations by classmates or teacher; passing notes
• Very weak or no notes
• Being late or disruptive in class and/or other such unprofessional behavior
• Works on homework for another class during class time
• Not listening to others; sleeping or dozing off; disrespectful to colleagues
• Unreceptive to the consideration of alternative approaches; dogmatic and close minded
• Asks questions for which he/she already knows the answer
• Acts as a free-rider in small group activities