Programme/Approved Electives for 2022/23
International Law (Level 4)International Law (Level 4)Law and Society (Level 4)Law and Society (Level 4)
Available as a Free Standing Elective
No
First or second class honours degree in Law or a related discipline (such as politics, criminology, sociology or history), or appropriate professional qualifications and/or experience
This module offers a critical perspective on the development of international environmental law. It provides a grounding in the legal norms, institutions and processes of the field, and explores current environmental global issues such as biodiversity loss, trade and environment, food security and climate change through specific treaty regimes. Drawing on a range of legal, policy and other literature, the module highlights key challenges facing the regulation of the environment today.
Aims
This module provides an outline of the international environmental law framework and offers students detailed insight into specific treaty regimes such as the Convention on Biological Diversity; the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, and the World Trade Organisation.The three principal aims of this module are:1) to situate the historical development of international environmental law within a colonial and theological context;2) to think critically about the basic rules, principles, institutions and processes of international environmental law, and3) to open discussion on some of the structural limits and biases of international environmental law.
Talis Aspire Reading ListAny reading lists will be provided by the start of the course.http://lists.lib.keele.ac.uk/modules/law-40043/lists
Intended Learning Outcomes
Identify, explain and critically evaluate the fundamental principles and rules of international environmental law will be achieved by assessments: 1, 2Demonstrate deep understanding of specific treaty regimes will be achieved by assessments: 1, 2Analyse the role of international environmental law in its wider legal, political and economic context will be achieved by assessments: 1, 2
Seminars: 10 x 2 = 20 hoursClass preparation, including group assignment: 50 hoursEssay: 80 hoursTotal = 150 hours
Description of Module Assessment
1: Research Report weighted 20%Group presentation of research report on a treaty regimeThis will involve a compulsory group exercise whereby each group will undertake research into an environmental treaty regime and give a 20-minutes class presentation on their final report. The group will need to identify the regime's historical development, its key features (principles, rules, institutions) and the main challenges to its implementation. The report will be submitted in hard copy, following the presentation. The purpose of the presentation is to assess the students' knowledge of international environmental law, as applied in their report. Students' presentation skills will not be assessed. Contributions to the presentation report are assessed collectively, i.e. all students in a group are awarded the same mark.
2: Essay weighted 80%3,000 words research essayThis will involve a longer individual exercise whereby students must formulate their research question in discussion with the course convenor, and produce a 3,000 word essay at the end of the term. The questions may focus on issues discussed in class, on the treaty regime covered in the group presentation, or on a topic of their own choosing.