Land, Race and Law in South East Asia

This subject is not offered in 2008.

For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Student Support and Engagement Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Overview, Learning Outcomes, Assessment and Generic Skills sections of this entry.

It is University policy to take all reasonable steps to minimise the impact of disability upon academic study, and reasonable adjustments will be made to enhance a student's participation in the University's programs. Students who feel their disability may impact on meeting the requirements of this subject are encouraged to discuss this matter with a Faculty Student Adviser and Student Equity and Disability Support: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/disability

Indigenous and traditional communities in Southeast Asia face constant challenges in dealing with the western-derived common and civil law legal system inherited from colonialism. The subject looks at how modern plural systems deal with indigenous land rights, ethnic conflict and syariak (Islamic law) in our region.

The first half of the subject introduces students to the basic structure and operation of the Indonesian, East Timor and Malaysian legal systems and their legal inheritances from traditional customary law (or adat), Islamic traditions and from the West. It also introduces students to Islamic jurisprudence and basic concepts of traditional customary law. The second part of the subject examines the practical operation and interaction of Islamic law, traditional customary law and western-derived systems by focusing on specific areas of law and current problems, including religious violence, racial discrimination and terrorism and Asian history.

Note: The essay in this subject is regarded as a substantial piece of legal writing for honours purposes.

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

On completion of the subject, students should have developed the following generic skills:

• attitudes towards knowledge that include valuing truth, openness to new ideas and ethics associated with knowledge creation and usage
• the capacity for close reading and analysis of a range of sources
• the capacity for critical and independent thought and reflection
• the capacity to solve problems, including through the collection and evaluation of information
• the capacity to communicate, both orally and in writing
• the capacity to plan and manage time
• intercultural sensitivity and understanding

In addition, on completion of the subject, students should have developed the following skills specific to the discipline of law:

• legal analysis and problem-solving, including an ability to:
• critically analyse legal rules with reference to fundamental principles
• legal research skills, including an ability to:
• find foreign case law
• find foreign statutes and subordinate legislation
• identify the version of statutory provisions in force at a particular date
• legal writing skills, including an ability to:
• use foreign case law, where available and in English, as part of legal analysis
• use statutes, where available and in English, as part of legal analysis
• identify and summarise legal principles
• identify and summarise fundamental principles
• use proper referencing and citation
• present an appropriately structured and supported complex legal argument, including the use of materials arising in foreign jurisdictions
• have developed oral communication skills in participating in classroom problem solving and discussion
• have enhanced general cognitive skills in relation to reading and comprehending legal materials; logical analysis and reasoning; legal research and writing; application of legal principles to factual situations; identifying relevant factual information; identifying and considering options to resolve legal problems; and drawing on the knowledge of other disciplines to understand and resolve legal issues.