Genocide, State Crime and the Law

Subject CRIM90007 (2011)

Note: This is an archived Handbook entry from 2011.

Credit Points: 12.50
Level: 9 (Graduate/Postgraduate)
Dates & Locations:

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2011:

March, Parkville - Taught on campus.
Pre-teaching Period Start not applicable
Teaching Period not applicable
Assessment Period End not applicable
Last date to Self-Enrol not applicable
Census Date not applicable
Last date to Withdraw without fail not applicable

Intensive

Timetable can be viewed here. For information about these dates, click here.
Time Commitment: Contact Hours: Intensively run weekend seminars from 9:00am - 5:00pm on 12, 13, 26 and 27 March 2011.
Total Time Commitment: Not available
Prerequisites: None
Corequisites: None
Recommended Background Knowledge: Criminology or Politics and Internaitonal Studies at Undergraduate level
Non Allowed Subjects: 191-537 Genocide, State Crime and the Law
Core Participation Requirements: For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Students Experiencing Academic Disadvantage Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Description, Subject Objectives, Generic Skills and Assessment Requirements of this entry.The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the disability support scheme can be found at the Disability Liaison Unit website: http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability/

Coordinator

Dr Jennifer Balint

Contact

Dr. Jennifer Balint jbalint@unimelb.edu.au
Subject Overview:

Genocide, State Crime and the Law examines the differing roles played by law and legal process in the wake of genocide and other forms of state crime. It examines the limitations and potentials of law in addressing mass harm, in particular analysing the role and function of law in societal reconstruction and reconciliation. Case studies analysed include Rwanda, South Africa, East Timor, the former Yugoslavia, the Holocaust, Australia and Cambodia.
Objectives:
  • Be familiar with a range of approaches to addressing genocide and state crime.
  • Understand the social, political, cultural and historical contexts of legal and quasi-legal responses to genocide and state crime.
  • Possess a critical understanding of these choices.
  • Be able to critically and constructively discuss the limitations and potentials of law in the context of addressing mass harm.
  • Be able to critically and constructively discuss the limitations and potentials of law in reconstruction and reconciliation.
Assessment:

1 x one hour class test - 1000 words, 20%

1 x 500 word essay proposal with provisional bibliography - 10%

1 x 3500 word research essay - 70%

Hurdle Requirement: As this is an Intensively-taught subject, Lecture/Seminar attendance is compulsory on all 4 days. Students who fail to meet this hurdle requirement will be deemed ineligible to submit the final piece of assessment for this subject. Regular participation in class is required.

Assessment submitted late without an approved extension will be penalised at 2% per working day. In-class tasks missed without approval will not be marked. All pieces of written work must be submitted to pass this subject.
Prescribed Texts:

A subject reader will be available for purchase from the University Bookshop.
Recommended Texts:
  • Lethe's Law: Justice, Law and Ethics in Reconciliation, E. Christodoulidis and S. Veitch, eds, Hart Publishing, Oxford, 2001.
  • Between Vengeance and Forgiveness: Facing History after Genocide and Mass Violence, M. Minow, Beacon Press, Boston, 1998.
  • Radical Evil on Trial, N. Carlos Santiago, Yale University Press, New Haven and London, 1996.
  • Mass Atrocity, Collective Memory, and the Law, Mark J. Osiel, Transaction Publishers, New Brunswick, NJ, 1997.
Breadth Options:

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.
Fees Information: Subject EFTSL, Level, Discipline & Census Date
Generic Skills:
  • have highly developed cognitive, analytical and problem-solving skills.
  • have an advanced understanding of complex concepts and the ability to express them lucidly in writing and orally.
Related Course(s): Master of Criminology (CWT)
Master of International Relations
Master of International Studies
Related Majors/Minors/Specialisations: Criminology
Criminology
Criminology
Socio-Legal studies
Socio-legal Studies

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