Law and Politics
Module POL24308
This module handbook serves to describe contents, learning outcome, methods and examination type as well as linking to current dates for courses and module examination in the respective sections.
Module version of SS 2020 (current)
There are historic module descriptions of this module. A module description is valid until replaced by a newer one.
Whether the module’s courses are offered during a specific semester is listed in the section Courses, Learning and Teaching Methods and Literature below.
| available module versions | |
|---|---|
| SS 2020 | WS 2019/20 |
Basic Information
POL24308 is a semester module in English language at Bachelor’s level which is offered in summer semester.
This Module is included in the following catalogues within the study programs in physics.
- Catalogue of soft-skill courses
| Total workload | Contact hours | Credits (ECTS) |
|---|---|---|
| 180 h | 30 h | 6 CP |
Content, Learning Outcome and Preconditions
Content
In this seminar, we will discuss a range of issues pertinent to the field of international law that fall into two conceptual clusters: 1) global governance and 2) human rights law.
Within the first conceptual cluster, we will start by exploring the topic of international law and its reach – what are the actors, institutions, activities it can and does regulate and what remains beyond its grip. These latter areas [yet] untainted by international law will then be charted out and we will try to answer the question ‘how – if at all – can they be regulated with or beyond the tools of classical international law’? In this context, we will talk about the legal toolkit of international law – treaty and customary law [what we call ‘hard law’], and other, ‘softer’ tools of legal regulation.
Within the second conceptual cluster, we will center the discussion on the regime of human rights protection as it has evolved under international and EU law. In particular, we will explore how those two legal regimes operate and interact with each other with respect to human rights. The two core legal instruments we will look at – the CFR (Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union) and the ECHR (European Convention on Human Rights) – will be examined in a comparative perspective, while also taking stock of the highly influential and important case law in the area.
The concluding seminars will be devoted to examination in debate form of case studies that showcase the interactions of human rights with other fields of EU and international regulation, and the interactions between different human rights inter sé. Those interactions are not always smooth and often times lead to conflicts that then have to be solved by balancing different norms under the law – a role traditionally played by courts. For example, think of the right to privacy/the right to be forgotten and how it relates to the economic interest of accumulation of big data by companies such as Google. Should Google’s private economic interest prevail over someone’s right to his [personal] data not being on the web? Also, how does the right of freedom of speech/expression fare if comes in conflict with someone’s right to data protection/privacy? In this seminar, we are going to reflect on these and other similar matters through the lens of the law.
Within the first conceptual cluster, we will start by exploring the topic of international law and its reach – what are the actors, institutions, activities it can and does regulate and what remains beyond its grip. These latter areas [yet] untainted by international law will then be charted out and we will try to answer the question ‘how – if at all – can they be regulated with or beyond the tools of classical international law’? In this context, we will talk about the legal toolkit of international law – treaty and customary law [what we call ‘hard law’], and other, ‘softer’ tools of legal regulation.
Within the second conceptual cluster, we will center the discussion on the regime of human rights protection as it has evolved under international and EU law. In particular, we will explore how those two legal regimes operate and interact with each other with respect to human rights. The two core legal instruments we will look at – the CFR (Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union) and the ECHR (European Convention on Human Rights) – will be examined in a comparative perspective, while also taking stock of the highly influential and important case law in the area.
The concluding seminars will be devoted to examination in debate form of case studies that showcase the interactions of human rights with other fields of EU and international regulation, and the interactions between different human rights inter sé. Those interactions are not always smooth and often times lead to conflicts that then have to be solved by balancing different norms under the law – a role traditionally played by courts. For example, think of the right to privacy/the right to be forgotten and how it relates to the economic interest of accumulation of big data by companies such as Google. Should Google’s private economic interest prevail over someone’s right to his [personal] data not being on the web? Also, how does the right of freedom of speech/expression fare if comes in conflict with someone’s right to data protection/privacy? In this seminar, we are going to reflect on these and other similar matters through the lens of the law.
Learning Outcome
After having successfully completed this module, students are able to:
1) identify and explain main concepts of and theories about the evolution of the areas of global governance and human rights law;
2) use relevant scholarly literature in international law to prepare a structured talk on a pre-determined topic; 3) analyze and critically engage with available literature in order to build a cogent and coherent argument on a specific topic/problem in the domains of global governance and human rights law
1) identify and explain main concepts of and theories about the evolution of the areas of global governance and human rights law;
2) use relevant scholarly literature in international law to prepare a structured talk on a pre-determined topic; 3) analyze and critically engage with available literature in order to build a cogent and coherent argument on a specific topic/problem in the domains of global governance and human rights law
Preconditions
no info
Courses, Learning and Teaching Methods and Literature
Courses and Schedule
| Type | SWS | Title | Lecturer(s) | Dates | Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SE | 2 | (POL24308) Law and Politics: (Topics in International Law - Seminar 1) |
Georgieva, Z.
Responsible/Coordination: Büthe, T. |
Tue, 11:30–13:00, virtuell |
eLearning |
Learning and Teaching Methods
no info
Media
no info
Literature
Hendriksen, International Law (OUP, 2017) ISBN 9780198753018
J. Crawford and M. Koskenniemi (eds.), The Cambridge Companion to International Law (Cambridge University Press, 2012) ISBN 9780521143080
J. Klabbers, International Law (CUP, 2017) ISBN 9780521144063
J. Crawford and M. Koskenniemi (eds.), The Cambridge Companion to International Law (Cambridge University Press, 2012) ISBN 9780521143080
J. Klabbers, International Law (CUP, 2017) ISBN 9780521144063
Module Exam
Description of exams and course work
‘The examination will consist of a full-day take-home open-book exam on a mock case exploring topics covered in the course. The mock case will consist of a description of a dispute on a specific topic (ex. human rights protection in the international legal space), where two parties with opposing positions will be arguing. The students’ task will be to choose one of the two presented standpoints and defend it in an essay, which shows knowledge of the basics of international law and therefore demonstrates an ability to produce cogent and coherent arguments built on facts and knowledge of the subject matter. Students will be able to exercise on the format during the end-of-semester debate and will be also provided with a test mock case that will be solved during the final sessions of teaching for this course.
Exam Repetition
There is a possibility to take the exam in the following semester.