Last modified: 27 Aug 2025 12:16
Colonisation involves states and other entities taking control of foreign territories and the people within. It has occurred in many places, at many points in time. Law – via treaties, statutes, courts and other legal devices – has often played a crucial role in the process of colonisation. This course will examine the relationship between law and colonisation, seeking to uncover the consequences (or “legal legacy”) of this relationship in jurisdictions that have experienced colonisation.
| Study Type | Undergraduate | Level | 4 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Term | First Term | Credit Points | 25 credits (12.5 ECTS credits) |
| Campus | Aberdeen | Sustained Study | No |
| Co-ordinators |
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One or more of these courses have a limited number of places. Priority access will be given to students for whom this course is compulsory. Please refer to the Frequently Asked Questions for more details on this process.
This course examines the interaction of law and colonisation, and what the consequences of that interaction are. The course will not be confined to any one time period, or any one geographic location. Rather, through a series of case studies, it will look at the way that law has enabled, perpetuated and enforced colonisation in various jurisdictions around the world, both historically and in contemporary times.
A broad approach to what is “law” will be taken in this course. Treaties, legislation, the decisions of courts and other legal actors may all be discussed and examined. Nor will this course be confined to a single field or area of law. Law affecting constitutional issues, property rights, human labour and economic development (among others) may be all be considered. While the legal issues discussed in the course will be diverse, a common question or thread running throughout will be: how has the law been used in the process of colonisation?
In this way, the course will seek to unpack what “legacy” has been left by the law in jurisdictions that have experienced colonisation. Have indigenous or other marginalised groups suffered discrimination or inequality as a result? Does the law continue to reflect and exacerbate power imbalances? Or can law be used as a tool to address the adverse consequences of colonisation? These are all questions that may be asked in deepening our understanding of the relationship between law and colonisation.
Information on contact teaching time is available from the course guide.
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | 40 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | 14 | Feedback Weeks | 17 | |
| Feedback |
Students will have a choice of up to two essay questions (based upon the topics discussed in Seminars 1 & 2). The essay questions will be released four weeks prior to the due date. Individualised feedback will be provided via MyAberdeen when the grades are released. *The word limit excludes footnotes/bibliography/etc. |
Word Count | 2500 | |
| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Conceptual | Analyse | Critically engage with legal literature and other sources of information concerning the relationship between law and colonisation. |
| Conceptual | Evaluate | Improve legal writing and reasoning skills, including the ability to conduct legal research and to develop a written argument. |
| Factual | Understand | Gain knowledge of the variety of ways in which (historically and in more modern times) law has engaged with the process of colonisation. |
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | 60 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | Feedback Weeks | |||
| Feedback |
This is an online open book exam. Students will be required to answer 2 questions, out of a choice of at least 4 questions. These questions will be based on the topics discussed in Seminars 3–6. Individualised feedback will be provided via MyAberdeen when the grades are released. |
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| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Conceptual | Analyse | Critically engage with legal literature and other sources of information concerning the relationship between law and colonisation. |
| Conceptual | Evaluate | Improve legal writing and reasoning skills, including the ability to conduct legal research and to develop a written argument. |
| Factual | Understand | Gain knowledge of the variety of ways in which (historically and in more modern times) law has engaged with the process of colonisation. |
There are no assessments for this course.
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | Feedback Weeks | |||
| Feedback |
Re-submission of failed element in re-sit diet; the failed course will be capped at 09 (D3). |
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| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
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| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Conceptual | Analyse | Critically engage with legal literature and other sources of information concerning the relationship between law and colonisation. |
| Conceptual | Evaluate | Improve legal writing and reasoning skills, including the ability to conduct legal research and to develop a written argument. |
| Factual | Understand | Gain knowledge of the variety of ways in which (historically and in more modern times) law has engaged with the process of colonisation. |
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