Tags
GED, IJ
Admissions requirements
Political and Economic Foundations of Law (200 level)
Description
About 125 states in Africa, Asia and the Middle East are referred to as ‘developing’ or ‘non-western’ countries; their law and governance systems are the subject of this comparative course. The course starts from the question to what extent and how foreign interventions can contribute to better legal systems, good governance and development. However, in order to answer this question we need to consider a second one: how do law and governance actually function in these countries?
Economic, political and social problems cause tensions and conflicts in laws, legal institutions, and legal processes, especially when large scale violence has erupted. Domestic institutions for law and governance are supposed to contribute to resolving those conflicts, but often they themselves are subject to the same problems they are supposed to address. What are the chances and ways of breaking through this vicious circle? While there has been widespread frustration about the state of law and legal institutions in the developing world, this course shows that some of these institutions are remarkably capable of moderating the complex relationships between modern state law, (post-)colonial law, religious norms and customary rules. The problems and solutions that we encounter in this field are of critical importance to the development process as a whole.
Course objectives
After successful completion of this course, students are able to:
critically debate the prevailing conceptual frameworks in this field (rule of law, legal pluralism, (good) governance, access to justice, legal empowerment, etc.)
critically reflect on the formal features of law and governance prevalent in many developing countries and the actual working of these formal systems
explain the complicated relationship between law and development
Timetable
Once available, timetables will be published here.
Mode of instruction
Each week will consist of two seminars, which combine lecturing, students’ presentations with discussions. Through seminar debate, presentations, web posts, and coursework students are given the opportunity to present and defend their ideas within an academic setting and to take part in group projects.
Seminars:
Two times two hours for seven weeks;
Seminars and the required assignments provide the students with the opportunity to apply their newly gained knowledge and train their academic skills.
Assessment
In-class participation and 4 web postings (15%)
Presentation and paper (25%)
Written mid-term exam (20%)
Written final exam (40%)
Blackboard
There will be a Blackboard site available for this course. Students will be enrolled at least one week before the start of classes.
Reading list
The literature for this course consists mostly of academic articles and a few policy papers, specified in the course syllabus. No hard copy course reader will be compiled.
The literature can be downloaded from the web or the e-library of Leiden University; students will need to retrieve and print the literature themselves as per the guidance provided on Blackboard. Any literature not available through the web or e-library will be made available by the course convenor at least one week in advance.
Students are expected to print the reading material and bring it to class with any notes or highlighting marked on it.
Registration
This course is open to LUC students and LUC exchange students. Registration is coordinated by the Curriculum Coordinator. Interested non-LUC students should contact course.administration@luc.leidenuniv.nl.
Contact
Laure D’Hondt l.y.d.hondt@law.leidenuniv.nl