Postgraduate Course: Global South Actors in International Relations and International Law, 1945-present (LAWS11482)
Course Outline
| School | School of Law |
College | College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) |
Availability | Not available to visiting students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | Major powers were often dominant in constructing modern political and legal systems. However, Global South actors have also been a powerful but underacknowledged force in shaping world affairs. The subject of the course is how intergovernmental organisations in Africa, Latin America, and Southeast Asia have shaped political and legal norms and institutions in human rights, peace and security, and disaster management. The course objectives are to build knowledge of Global South contributions and to foster research, presenting, and analytical skills. By the end of the course, students will have in-depth knowledge of:
- Regional norms in Latin America, Africa, and Southeast Asia and how regional bodies shape regional legal and political norms;
- The intersection of political and legal norms and their impact on governance, policy, and practice;
- Legal innovations from regional courts;
- Theories of norm creation and dissemination and how regional actors may have influenced regional and global governance;
- Areas of normative innovation by Global South actors and how these actors may have impacted policies and practice in other regions and globally. |
| Course description |
Week 1 - Theories on Global South Contributions to the Global Order
Week 2 - Latin American Influence on Human Rights - Economic and Social Rights
Week 3 - African Advocacy to use Racial Equality Norms to Influence State Behaviour
Week 4 - Legal and Political Underpinnings of Humanitarian Intervention
Week 5 - Legal and Political Underpinnings of Restricting Small and Light Arms
Week 6 - Introduction to Regional Courts: Inter-American Court of Human Rights
Week 7 - The Inter-American Court's Contributions to Rights: Right to a Healthy Environment and Indigenous Rights
Week 8 - Introduction to Regional Courts: The African Court of Human and People's Rights
Week 9 - Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN): The 'ASEAN Way' and Crisis Diplomacy and Disaster Management
Week 10 - The New Public Health Order for Africa: The AU and Africa CDC's Attempts to Regionalise Public Health Governance
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
|
Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
Course Delivery Information
|
| Academic year 2024/25, Not available to visiting students (SS1)
|
Quota: 28 |
| Course Start |
Semester 1 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
200
(
Seminar/Tutorial Hours 20,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
176 )
|
| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
100 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
|
| Additional Information (Assessment) |
The summative assessments will include a research plan and research paper. These are designed in line with the course objectives of building skills and knowledge. The assessments will build on each other to allow students to receive feedback throughout the course.
Research Plan (25%): The research plan is a 1000-word outline that must designate the research question, argument, plan to support the argument, and preliminary bibliography. Students will receive feedback on their research plan to help them write their research paper.
Research Paper (75%): The research paper will be up to 4000 words. |
| Feedback |
The assessments will build on each other to allow students to receive feedback throughout the course. |
| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Regional norms in Latin America, Africa, and Southeast Asia and how regional bodies shape regional legal and political norms;
- The intersection of political and legal norms and their impact on governance, policy, and practice;
- Legal innovations from regional courts;
- Theories of norm creation and dissemination and how regional actors may have influenced regional and global governance;
- Areas of normative innovation by Global South actors and how these actors may have impacted policies and practice in other regions and globally.
|
Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Students will develop the necessary skills to:
1. Demonstrate critical analytical ability and independence;
2. Assess the credibility of sources of information;
3. Understand debates from multiple perspectives whilst forming their own arguments based on evidence.
4. Prioritise and manage their time by working independently in order to prepare for class, including reading required texts and undertaking research;
5. Engage in respectful discussion and debate during class;
6. Collaborate with colleagues by working in small groups to prepare a summative assessment presentation.
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| Keywords | Not entered |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Kathryn Nash
Tel: (0131 6)50 2008
Email: Kathryn.Nash@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Ms Susanna Wickes
Tel:
Email: Susanna.Wickes@ed.ac.uk |
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