This module is discontinued in the selected year. The information shown below is for the academic year that the module was last running in, prior to the year selected.
2015/16 Undergraduate Module Catalogue
LAW3515 War Crimes and Genocide
20 creditsClass Size: 45
Module manager: Professor Elies Sliedregt
Taught: Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) View Timetable
Year running 2015/16
This module is mutually exclusive with
| LAW2515 | War Crimes and Genocide |
Module replaces
LAW2515 War Crimes and GenocideThis module is not approved as a discovery module
Module summary
The module introduces students to the legal foundations, conceptual issues, theories and causes of war crimes, mass atrocity and genocide. It makes students familiar with all groups involved, perpetrators, victims and bystanders, and explores issues of prevention, prosecution and punishment.Objectives
- To introduce students to key questions on war crimes and genocide/mass killings from a criminological perspective.- To encourage students to think about causes of war crimes and genocide related to wider issues of war, internal and international conflict and discrimination.
- To introduce students to theoretical explanations of war crimes and genocide.
- To discuss these issues drawing on a wide range of sources and geo-political contexts (e.g. the Second World War and the Holocaust, Bosnia, Rwanda, Kosovo, Cambodia and Latin America cases).
Learning outcomes
- Acquiring systematic understanding of the legal concepts of war crimes and genocide, of theoretical explanations and of measures of prosecution and prevention;
- Developing systematic understanding of current theoretical debates;
- Becoming familiar with empirical research on causes and contexts of war crimes and genocide;
- Developing an understanding through case studies and comparative perspectives;
- Becoming familiar with empirical research on perpetrators, victims and survivors.
Skills outcomes
- Communicating information about, interpretations of, and reflections upon a range of materials verbally and in writing, based on case studies and comparative perspectives;
- Applying comparative perspectives through cross-national analyses and in-depth case studies to selected cases of war and crimes and genocide
- Applying both new and existing subject knowledge and understanding to the study of war crimes and genocide in the context of international law, conflicts and crises;
- Critically evaluating relevant explanatory concepts and empirical evidence, measures of prosecution and prevention;
- Researching specific task and seek out information from various sources;
- Using electronic resources and data bases;
- Using the resources of NGOs and international organisations in the field;
- Presenting the results of their research to an audience using various media;
- Working continuously in small teams to fulfil the research task and prepare and deliver the presentation;
- Communicating ideas and arguments in class;
-Using data and other information to critically assess arguments;
- Conducting a case study.
Syllabus
1. Introduction to the course: First perspectives on War Crimes and Genocide - what is the difference: Definitions, legal terms, international law
2. What happens: typology of war crimes and genocide
3. Modernity and genocide: The Holocaust
4. Cultural and social factors: Case studies
5. Strategy and involvement: Perpetrators
6. Victims of Genocide
7. Victims and perpetrators' narratives: South Africa or Rwanda
8. Memories: Individual and collective memories, memorials and museums
9. Preventing genocide: Strategies and intervention
10. Prosecution of War Crimes and Genocide: The International Military Tribunal at Nuremberg, International Tribunals, other International Courts
11. Prosecution of War Crimes and Genocide: Case Studies
Teaching methods
| Delivery type | Number | Length hours | Student hours |
| Lecture | 6 | 2.00 | 12.00 |
| Seminar | 6 | 1.00 | 6.00 |
| Private study hours | 182.00 | ||
| Total Contact hours | 18.00 | ||
| Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) | 200.00 | ||
Opportunities for Formative Feedback
Registers of attendance will be taken - and absences dealt with through normal School channels. Progress will be monitored through contributions to seminars and the presentation. Support will be offered where appropriate and all students are required to discuss assignments with the module leaderMethods of assessment
Coursework
| Assessment type | Notes | % of formal assessment |
| Presentation | short paper | 40.00 |
| Total percentage (Assessment Coursework) | 40.00 | |
Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated
Exams
| Exam type | Exam duration | % of formal assessment |
| Unseen exam | 2 hr 00 mins | 60.00 |
| Total percentage (Assessment Exams) | 60.00 | |
Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated
Reading list
The reading list is available from the Library websiteLast updated: 07/05/2015
Browse Other Catalogues
- Undergraduate module catalogue
- Taught Postgraduate module catalogue
- Undergraduate programme catalogue
- Taught Postgraduate programme catalogue
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