LAW-40051 - 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

There are no specific entry requirements.
Note that a cap will operate (proposed cap of 40). The course will be available in first instance to students on the LLM in International Law; LLM Law and Society and MA in Human Rights, Globalisation and Justice and can be opened to students on other postgraduate programmes across the University.

Barred Combinations

None

Description for 2024/25

This module will provide students with an understanding of how the regulation of business operates in a global economy. It will introduce students to the critical debates on globalisation and regulation, regulating global business and problems of regulatory enforcement. It will examine why and how regulation moves from the national to the international level; its models, mechanisms and actors; challenges in implementation and the role of multi-national corporations. The course will chart the global regulatory network, consisted of state and non-state actors, with a particular focus on the rise of meta-regulation as a result of the activities of business, NGOs and other global actors that has spurned demands and rise in the compliance profession.
These questions will be examined in a variety of industries and policy contexts, divided into two segments: economic and social regulation. The regulation of global financial markets and its failure to prevent the 2008 financial crisis will be given prominent place within the topics on economic regulation. The course concludes with debates on how we evaluate the overall effects of global business governance. The students will be provoked to discuss and criticise current, and contemplate alternative models of governance of global business.
Topics covered typically include:
I. The regulatory framework
- Globalisation and regulation
- Models of globalisation
- Global governance networks
- Mechanisms, principles and actors: public and private bodies, third parties
- Regulatory enforcement
- Global corporate crime
- The challenges of compliance with global regulation
II. Economic regulation: case studies
- Financial regulation
- Corporations and securities
- The financial crisis and global banking
- Trade and competition

III. Social regulation: case studies
- Telecommunications and internet providers
- Pharmaceuticals
- Environment
- Food safety
IV. Towards a model of global corporate governance.
V. Research skills
- introduction to the library and electronic resources
- how to write essays
The course is delivered through twelve two-hour lectures. Teaching is by interactive lectures, and plenary discussions. Students will have an opportunity to hear from practitioners in the area.

To introduce students to the wide range of key issues in global regulation and business, and the complex relationship between law and business in a global context;
To equip students with knowledge of key theories, frameworks and principles that inform academic debates on the regulation of global business;
To develop original thinking on the complex issues of establishing global governance systems and evaluate their effectiveness;
To introduce students to the current regulatory structure of a variety of industry areas, and enable them to draw broader conclusions on the regulation of business;
To enable students to use these tools to analyse practical challenges in regulatory enforcement in global industries;
To introduce students to the role and practical challenges of the compliance profession in an international context;
To provide students with a practical understanding of the norms and conventions of academic argument and writing;
To develop transferable skills in research, self-direction, time management, planning, and communication.

Intended Learning Outcomes

understand how global regulations and regulatory bodies are constructed, and how multi-national corporations shape the construction of such global regulations; will be achieved by assessments: 1
understand the importance of compliance with regulation in a global context, the underlining challenges and how these influence or are influenced by domestic regulations; will be achieved by assessments: 1
assess and engage with arguments in the academic literature concerning compliance, best regulatory models and ways to enforce them; will be achieved by assessments: 1
discuss, elaborate on and critically examine the regulation of various global industries and use these case studies to draw broader conclusions on the nature of global markets and global regulation; will be achieved by assessments: 1
demonstrate original thinking about the complex issues related to business regulation and an ability to communicate these ideas to specialist and non-specialist audiences; will be achieved by assessments: 1
demonstrate a systematic understanding of the relationship between law and business;
will be achieved by assessments: 1
synthesise findings into a logical argument that explicitly addresses the assignment question, and defend the argument against foreseeable criticism; will be achieved by assessments: 1
communicate complex issues and arguments in a clear and structured manner; will be achieved by assessments: 1
employ appropriate academic conventions regarding citation and referencing. will be achieved by assessments: 1

Study hours

Total number of hours: 150.
Interactive lectures: 24 (12 lectures of 2 hours each)
Background reading: 50
Assignment research and writing: 76

School Rules

None

Description of Module Assessment