CRI-30051 - Module Specification
School of Social, Political and Global Studies
Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences

Programme/Approved Electives for 2022/23

Available as a Free Standing Elective

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

None

Barred Combinations

None

Description for 2022/23

This module is aimed at anyone with an interest in the intersection of the global and the local in criminal justice; the specific focus here is on crimes against the environment which can be committed, organized or coordinated across national borders, involving groups or networks of individuals working in more than one country. To give a few examples, we shall be exploring criminological theory in relation to a variety of criminal behavior, from money laundering, human smuggling, piracy in international waters, smuggling drugs, weapons, pollution in oil fields in the Niger Delta, oil leaks in the gulf of Mexico, illegal logging in the amazon or illegal poaching in endangered species- for example rhino horns and and elephant tusks.
Students will also look at, not only recent developments in trying to police these crimes but also the challenges and controversies involved; is poaching fueling terrorism? How can global structures- the UN system, for example- curtail trade in endangered species. As it becomes clear, we are concerned here not only with the root causes of transnational crimes (wherever their location), but also their immediate (European) and global context, that is, how states in Europe and elsewhere have to reach out in order to develop the networks of cooperation which are necessary to not just investigate and prosecute these crimes but stop them altogether.

The module aims to introduce students to the rationales, debates, actors and institutions involved in transnational environmental crimes and transnational policing of environmental crimes. Among other things we shall consider the shortcomings of theorizing on environmentalism, exploring the limitations 'traditional' criminology versus a 'social harms' approach. The idea is to critically engage with the main challenges and opportunities facing transnational criminal justice instruments in general, and policing in particular, especially when it comes to the prevention of crimes which take place across borders (and which require cross-border jurisdictional cooperation), but which are injurious to the environment and livelihoods.

Intended Learning Outcomes

critically develop the attitude of deep learning; to be able to make logical connections between global/transnational events and criminality theory: 1
hone their communication, writing and presentation skills which are critical in articulating, defending and analyzing academic material and academic arguments positions; this will be encouraged and developed in class/tutorial discussions as well as in the essay writing process: 1
develop a critical knowledge of the connections between the local and the global, specifically an understanding of not only the distinctions between international and transnational criminality but the frameworks and challenges of policing the latter in a rapidly changing global arena where protection of the environment is critical: 1
develop their critical employability skills in the rapidly developing arena of human rights and transnational criminal justice: 1
make use of feedback from their peers and their tutors, especially to be able to use critiques of their work to improve on their arguments and writing skills: 1
assess challenges posed by transnational organised crime to the environment- and also the operational rationales of transnational policing, human rights and security instruments: 1
posses the critical research skills which are needed for successful completion of dissertations and other coursework: 1

Study hours

Tutorials: 11
Lectures: 11
Study/Revision:
Tutorial preparation: 50
Assignment preparation: 78

School Rules

None

Description of Module Assessment