Main Field of Study and progress level:
Law: Second cycle, has only first-cycle course/s as entry requirements
Grading scale: Pass with distinction, Pass with credit, Pass, Fail
Responsible department: Department of Law
Established by: Head of Department of Law, 2014-11-28
Revised by: Head of Department of Law, 2015-11-30
Contents
Fair and reliable laws and judicial institutions are widely emphasized as being crucial to peace, security and development. The purpose of the course is to highlight a number of key issues in creating and reforming such institutions in transition- and developing countries, or countries devastated by war, as well as remain sustainability in developed countries. This course highlights the work of International Organizations in cooperation with states on policies and approaches to enhance the rule of law.
the critical role of law for peace and security, the legal basis for how states and international organizations can operate within international politics, whether and how law can be used to promote reconsiliation, democratisation and economic development, the prospects of successfully using foreign legal and judicial concepts as models, development co-operation within the field of law, e.g. how projects are identified, implemented and evaluated.
The course will start with a brief exposé of the most common arguments for and against international support to legal and judicial reforms, previous experiences of donor-supported reform programs, relevant international norms and policies, and the role of international organizations. After that a number of thematic seminars will provide a deeper understanding of key issues in building, reforming and sustaining legal and judicial institutions.
All aspects of this course, including the examination, are conducted in English.
Expected learning outcomes
After having successfully completed the course, the student will have detailed knowledge of:
The international rationale for emphasizing RoL in developing, transition and post-crisis environments The role of states and international organizations in RoL developments The possibilities and limitations of different approaches and legal tools in those developments.
Required Knowledge
Univ: 120 university credits from the Law Programme.
Form of instruction
The teaching will essentially consist of compulsory seminars. External experts will be invited to discuss current developments within their respective fields. Active participation by the students in analyzing and discussing arguments and trends is critical. Participating students are required to carefully study all assigned texts and cases before each seminar. Further instructions on the requirements for each seminar will be handed out as the course proceeds. All teaching and seminars will be in the English language.
Examination modes
Examination takes place through fulfillment of two parts, partly the compulsory course elements specified in component 1 below, partly writing a research paper specified in component 2 below.
Component 1 Active participation during compulsory seminars.
Component 2 Fulfillment of an individual research paper.
Grades A passing grade on the activities under components 1-2 above are required to receive a passing grade for the course as a whole. For component 1 the grades Fail (U) or Pass (G) can be awarded. On the research paper the grades awarded are Fail (U), Pass (B), Pass not without distinction (Ba) or Pass with distinction (AB).
On the entire course, the grades given are Fail (U), Pass (B), Pass without distinction (Ba) or Pass with distinction (AB). The grade for the course as a whole is based on the result of the research paper and awarded after the completion of all compulsory course elements.
The appointed examiner may decide to use other forms of examination if required by particular circumstances. A student who has not received a passing grade on a test will be afforded an opportunity for re-examination. A student who has passed examination may not be re-examined. A student who has taken two tests for a course or segment of a course, without passing, has the right to have another examiner appointed, unless special reasons exist. A written request for change of examiner is submitted to the Director of Undergraduate Education.
Students who have participated in but failed a test, including essays, seminars, written and oral assignments et cetera, but not including the final written, take home or oral test of the course, have the right to do a make–up assignment in order to reach the grade Pass (but not higher grades). The student may still achieve a higher grade than Pass on the course overall, if all requirements for the grade in question are fulfilled. The make-up assignment must be completed no later than two months after the student learned of the failed grade and using the same form of examination.
Academic credit transfer Students have the right to apply to have a previous education or experience evaluated for transfer of credits. For more information, see: www.umu.se/utbildning/antagning/tillgodoraknande
Literature
The literature list is not available through the web.
Please contact the faculty.
