production

The system will be offline between 13:00 and 14:00 17 October 2024 for scheduled maintenance.

Skip to Content

SP30SC: RULE OF LAW IN LATIN AMERICA A (2023-2024)

Last modified: 26 Oct 2023 13:16


Course Overview

Latin America is often described as a lawless land, where anything goes. Yet we will see in this course that law has been crucial to Latin America’s past and present. The problem is that the rich and powerful can put themselves above it, which means that law often ends up serving to keep the poor in their place. “Rule of law” means that the law should apply to everyone, including the powerful, and in recent years there have been calls for rule of law in Latin America. Can Latin Americans now hope for an end to impunity and injustice?

Course Details

Study Type Undergraduate Level 3
Term First Term Credit Points 15 credits (7.5 ECTS credits)
Campus Aberdeen Sustained Study No
Co-ordinators
  • Dr Trevor R. Stack

What courses & programmes must have been taken before this course?

  • Either Spanish And Latin American Studies (SP) (Studied) or MA European Studies (Studied)
  • Any Undergraduate Programme (Studied)

What other courses must be taken with this course?

None.

Are there a limited number of places available?

No

Course Description

Latin America is often described as a lawless land, where anything goes. Yet we will see in this course that law has been crucial to Latin America’s past and present. The problem is that the rich and powerful can put themselves above it, which means that law often ends up serving to keep the poor in their place. The poor, meanwhile, look for their own ways to defend themselves from law, for example by seeking out powerful patrons who, in return for cash and loyalty, will offer them some protection. “Rule of law” means that the law should apply to everyone, including the powerful, and in recent years there has been a chorus of voices calling for rule of law in Latin America. In this course we will ask whether we can hope for rule of law in Latin America, and if so, whether it makes for a more just society.


Contact Teaching Time

Information on contact teaching time is available from the course guide.

Teaching Breakdown

More Information about Week Numbers


Details, including assessments, may be subject to change until 30 August 2024 for 1st term courses and 20 December 2024 for 2nd term courses.

Summative Assessments

Oral Presentation: Individual

Assessment Type Summative Weighting 10
Assessment Weeks Feedback Weeks

Look up Week Numbers

Feedback
Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
Sorry, we don't have this information available just now. Please check the course guide on MyAberdeen or with the Course Coordinator

Short Essay

Assessment Type Summative Weighting 25
Assessment Weeks Feedback Weeks

Look up Week Numbers

Feedback

The above assignments receive marks, which the Course Guide links to specific marking criteria, and written or verbal feedback in the form of tutors' comments is also given. Additional informal feedback on performance and tutorial participation is offered in tutorials. Tutors have office hours at which further feedback may be sought.

Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
Sorry, we don't have this information available just now. Please check the course guide on MyAberdeen or with the Course Coordinator

Research Project

Assessment Type Summative Weighting 65
Assessment Weeks Feedback Weeks

Look up Week Numbers

Feedback
Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
Sorry, we don't have this information available just now. Please check the course guide on MyAberdeen or with the Course Coordinator

Formative Assessment

There are no assessments for this course.

Course Learning Outcomes

Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
FactualRememberILO’s for this course are available in the course guide.

Compatibility Mode

We have detected that you are have compatibility mode enabled or are using an old version of Internet Explorer. You either need to switch off compatibility mode for this site or upgrade your browser.