LAWHONS 751A/B : Special Topic: International Peace and Security

Law

2024 Semester One (1243) / Semester Two (1245) (20 POINTS)

Course Prescription

Covers the principal schools of political thought on the place of private law in modern society, including libertarian, Marxist, egalitarian, and neo-liberal theories. Discusses the political stakes involved in structuring and regulating private transactions. Evaluates the appropriateness of different modalities of generating private law, including traditional adjudication, democratic legislation, and the work of private legislatures.

Course Overview

Drawing on critical, postcolonial, and feminist scholarship, this course provides a detailed analysis of the contemporary international legal framework relating to international peace and security.

From the current war in Ukraine to the long-standing dispute regarding Iran’s alleged nuclear weapons programme, matters of international peace and security are never far from the headlines. This course has two related aims. First, to provide students with a thorough understanding of the international legal frameworks within which these disputes sit, including an appreciation of how and why the governing legal rules developed historically. The second aim, drawing on a range of critical, postcolonial, and feminist scholars, is to provide students the opportunity to develop nuanced and critical understandings of the theory and practice of the law of international peace and security. The course will achieve these aims by interrogating a series of contemporary and historical case studies to gain deeper understandings beyond media soundbites and headlines.

The course will start with a brief overview of the international legal system and an introductory/background reading list will be provided.

Course Requirements

Restriction: LAWCOMM 465 To complete this course students must enrol in LAWHONS 751 A and B

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 2: Sustainability
Capability 3: Knowledge and Practice
Capability 4: Critical Thinking
Capability 5: Solution Seeking
Capability 6: Communication
Capability 7: Collaboration
Capability 8: Ethics and Professionalism

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Understand and be able to apply the law relating to international peace and security (Capability 3.1, 4.1, 5.1 and 6.1)
  2. Understand and critically evaluate historic and current approaches to issues of international peace and security (Capability 2.1, 3.1, 4.1, 5.1, 6.1, 7.1 and 8.1)
  3. Independently research, analyse, critique and communicate one particular aspect of the law relating to international peace and security, including analysis of one or more specific case studies (if appropriate to the topic) (Capability 3.1, 4.1, 6.1 and 8.1)
  4. Communicate related legal analysis and theoretical knowledge in a manner that is clear and coherent, including through legal writing (Capability 3.1, 4.1, 6.1 and 8.1)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Research Outline and presentation 10% Individual Coursework
Research Essay 90% Individual Coursework
Assessment Type Learning Outcome Addressed
1 2 3 4
Research Outline and presentation
Research Essay

Workload Expectations

Officially, an honours seminar is a 20-point course - that is 48 hours of class time. According to the University, as a general guide, you should expect a total workload for this course of 200 hours. However, given how an honours seminar operates, the reality is that the workload will be different depending on the time of year. In semester 1, you will likely need to spend the several hours ahead of class in order to be properly prepared to participate in discussion. In semester 2, unless you are presenting that particular week, this will not be necessary. You should, however, be working on your research project steadily throughout the year.

Delivery Mode

Campus Experience

Attendance is expected at scheduled classes to complete components of the course. Classes will involve lectures and class discussion.

The course is delivered on the basis that students will attend in-person classes.

Learning Resources

Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).

Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

Student Feedback

At the end of every semester students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions.

Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.

Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

Students really enjoy the opportunity to share their work in this seminar, so this will be maintained this year in the second semester.

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed for potential plagiarism or other forms of academic misconduct, using computerised detection mechanisms.

Class Representatives

Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course director, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website http://disability.auckland.ac.nz

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a Student Academic and Support Adviser as soon as possible before the assessment is due.

If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.

This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Learning Continuity

In the event of an unexpected disruption, we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and course assessment continues to meet the principles of the University’s assessment policy. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator/director, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the university website for information about how to proceed.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html.

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.

In this course students may be asked to submit coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. In exceptional circumstances changes to elements of this course may be necessary at short notice. Students enrolled in this course will be informed of any such changes and the reasons for them, as soon as possible, through Canvas.

Published on 14/02/2024 02:15 p.m.