LAW-40047 - Module Specification
School of Law
Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences

Programme/Approved Electives for 2024/25

Available as a Free Standing Elective

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

None

Barred Combinations

None

Description for 2024/25

This is an important module for building on the Foundations module, and bringing out more specific themes. The module includes broad sessions on the conceptual and normative aspects of ethics, equality and the non-discrimination paradigm, and explores reflections on intersectional ties of gender and indigenous peoples/minorities, and on gender and sexuality. Using the thematic of religion, race, ethnicity and caste/descent, the module examines and critiques particular inequalities in international human rights policy and practice such as geographical and governance inequalities, exploring equality issues through particular case studies. Examples could include UK and comparative perspectives on equality and discrimination. Detailed normative analysis of global and regional norms on race discrimination; rights of caste groups, minorities and indigenous peoples; and standards on prevention and punishment of genocide are significant components of the programme of seminars for this module.

To introduce students to main issues of equality and discrimination in international human rights policy and practice.
This module introduces students to critical socio-legal approaches to equality, discrimination, and minorities. Rather than studying a discrete form of discrimination or minority group, this module takes an intersectional and interdisciplinary approach to thinking about equality and human rights more broadly. In particular, we will use the thematic lenses of race, religion, gender, and sexuality to explore how particular social groups (such as Indigenous peoples, women, queers, prisoners, etc) interact with specific social spaces in the pursuit of legal and social recognition.

Intended Learning Outcomes

Develop a systematic understanding of the equality and discrimination paradigm in legal, political and international human rights theory, and a critical awareness of current normative and conceptual issues presented by this, much of which is at, or informed by, the forefront of their relevant subjects or area of professional practice: 1
Develop a conceptual understanding that enables them to critically evaluate current research and advanced scholarship of the equality and discrimination paradigm, and to evaluate methodologies and develop critiques of them, and where appropriate, to propose new hypotheses: 1
Demonstrate originality in the application of knowledge and enhance their understanding of the equality and discrimination paradigm, together with a practical understanding of how established techniques of research and enquiry are used to create and interpret knowledge in the discipline: 1
Demonstrate self-direction and originality in tackling and solving research problems, and act autonomously in planning and implementing research tasks: 1
Enhance their ability to deal with complex issues of the equality and discrimination paradigm systematically and creatively, and to communicate conclusions clearly to specialist and non-specialist audiences: 1
Develop a comprehensive understanding of techniques applicable to their research into the equality and discrimination paradigm in legal, political and international human rights theory: 1

Study hours

12 x 2h seminars = 24h
Seminar preparation = 40h
Essay preparation = 40h
Private study = 46h
Total: 150h

School Rules

None

Description of Module Assessment