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SP40SC: THE RULE OF LAW IN LATIN AMERICA B (2018-2019)

Last modified: 22 May 2019 17:07


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 4
Session First Sub Session Credit Points 15 credits (7.5 ECTS credits)
Campus None. Sustained Study No
Co-ordinators
  • Dr Trevor Stack

Qualification Prerequisites

  • Either Programme Level 3 or Programme Level 4

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

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

What other courses must be taken with this course?

None.

What courses cannot be taken with this course?

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.

Further Information & Notes

This course may not be included as part of a graduating curriculum with SP 30SC (The Rule of Law in Latin America A).


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 31 August 2023 for 1st half-session courses and 22 December 2023 for 2nd half-session courses.

Summative Assessments

1st attempt: Two essays (40% each) and in-course assessment (20%) (consisting of 10% student-led discussion and 10% individual oral presentation).

Resit: Two essays (50% each).

Formative Assessment

There are no assessments for this course.

Feedback

None.

Course Learning Outcomes

None.

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