Explore the theorisation of Human Rights within International Relations debates. You will explore the contested conceptualisation of Human Rights, via universalist/relativist and cosmopolitan/communitarian debates, and locate the theorisation of rights within the broad schools of International Relations thought. You will also explore the tensions that emerge through the institutionalisation of rights at an international level, the operation of sovereignty and the politics of rights at a group and individual level.
Gain a deeper understanding of the power dynamics behind contemporary crime control policies of national and global reach. You will be able to identify and critically analyse discourses, narratives and policies of crime control and security, and develop an insight into how these impact the changing relationship between the individual and the state in its latest neo-liberal modification.
Study the key theories and concepts that are used to understand violence, conflict, and peace. By examining existing case studies, you'll gain an overview of various approaches that have been applied to manage or resolve conflict and to build peace. You'll gain an understanding of the key actors and processes associated with conflict resolution and peacebuilding, as well as key achievements and obstacles to building peace.
Critically explore acts of war, political violence and 'crimes of aggression' through the lens of criminological discourse. You will gain an in-depth critical understanding of war and its relationship with 'crime'; by critically evaluating the role of individual states, international communities, as well as victims, bystanders and known perpetrators or combatants.
Bringing together recent research in environmental history and the histories of food and eating, you will look at how food has been grown, transported and consumed in the western world since the Columbian Exchange of 1492.
Effective business competition should produce lower prices, better products and wider choice; however, some firms try to avoid competition. In this module, you’ll develop your understanding of policies and rules in promoting competitive, efficient, consumer-friendly markets. We’ll introduce you to key legal frameworks which shape and enforce competition law in the UK, EU and USA; exploring how they regulate anti-competitive practices. In today's rapidly evolving digital economy, understanding competition law is crucial. Looking at real-world examples, from companies like Google and Microsoft, you’ll examine how globalisation and technological advances, like AI and machine learning, challenge traditional competition laws.
Explore how the concepts of democracy, rule of law and human rights have evolved to underpin the modern international political and legal order. You'll examine whether these concepts are robust enough to cope with contemporary economic and political challenges.
An in-depth study of the key aspects of modern international commercial law, this module helps you understand and critically evaluate its substance, structure, and complexities. You'll explore essential elements of international commercial contracts, including forms and modes of finance and payment, and examine widely used international contractual terms (INCOTERMS) such as EXW, FCA, FAS, FOB, and CIF. The module also covers the UN Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods (CISG), exploring its legal character and substantive provisions. In the shipping law component, you'll examine the contract of carriage and the rights and duties of shippers and carriers. Specific topics include Bills of Lading, Charterparties, the Hague-Visby Rules, Hamburg Rules, Rotterdam Rules, Multimodal Transportation, and Marine Insurance. Throughout the module, you'll develop a critical understanding of international commercial law and consider its evolving nature, enabling you to assess the future direction and dynamic challenges of global commerce.
Study the 'forgotten trials' of the Holocaust and the associated crimes: war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide. You'll look at how prosecutors approached the charges and the way that the perpetrators of the Holocaust were dealt with in national courtrooms. You'll also explore the significance of testimony and identify the way that public memory of the Holocaust has been shaped.
Examine the legal system of the World Trade Organization (WTO) that governs the relations of states and other international players in the legal framework within the nation's trade. You'll give special consideration to the resolution of international trade disputes and the control of abuse of powers by the states, and the ways in which the WTO Member States approach the control of anti-trade behaviour. You'll also consider regional trading blocs, such as EU, NAFTA, ASEAN, as examples of successfully operating regional trading agreements.
This module considers several examples of post-World War II conflicts such as Bosnia, Dafur, Iraq, Afghanistan, Sahel region, Ukraine and Palestine; tracing the application of the legal principles in each instance. You'll explore how the rules of war and international humanitarian law have evolved in response to the changing face of armed hostilities in the modern world. We'll evaluate whether the current international legal framework is robust enough to cope with the rapid changes brought about by new technologies.
Gain a critical understanding of modern slavery and human trafficking, examining their varied forms within international human rights and criminal justice contexts. You'll explore the underlying causes and mechanisms of these abuses, considering both the perspectives of victims and the broader global environment in which they occur. The module also analyses the international legal systems and institutions designed to prevent human rights violations and protect victims. By the end of the module, you'll be equipped with the knowledge, tools, and legal frameworks used by criminal justice practitioners to identify, investigate, and hold perpetrators accountable.