Transitional Justice and International Security
Study Board of Political Science, Journalism, Sociology, and European Studies
Teaching language: English
EKA: B430004102, B430004112
Censorship: Second examiner: Internal, Second examiner: None
Grading: 7-point grading scale, Pass/Fail
Offered in: Odense
Offered in: Autumn
Level: Master
Course ID: B430004101
ECTS value: 10
Date of Approval: 13-03-2018
Duration: 1 semester
Course ID
Course Title
Teaching language
ECTS value
Responsible study board
Date of Approval
Course Responsible
Offered in
Level
Offered in
Duration
Mandatory prerequisites
Recommended prerequisites
Students taking this course must already have taken one or more courses in international relations, human rights law, international law and/or international criminal law. The course is offered as elective to students registered for the MSc in International Security and Law and also open to students of law, political science or other relevant educational programmes.
Aim and purpose
To end an armed conflict and bring a permanent stop to the hostilities between the warring parties through diplomatic, political or economic pressure, or ultimately the use of armed force, is difficult enough as it is. The process of healing the physical, social and psychological wounds in the immediate post-war period and restoring society without sacrificing the struggle against impunity, however, is much more complex. We are unable to compel people to respect and embrace their former enemy with compassion and empathy, and as long as there is still distrust and hatred between the persons belonging to each side of the conflict, peace and justice can never be fully established.
This course aims at bringing insight into the history and purpose of transitional justice processes and at bringing students to understand how such practices must be tailored specifically to each individual situation in order to meet the particular needs of the affected society. In most cases of transition, government institutions have broken down, there is social instability, resources are exhausted, the public security remains fragile and people have become afraid, traumatized and divided.
In this perspective, the course focuses on the different means and methods of transitional justice available to overcoming the divisive gaps between the conflicting parties, such as truth and reconciliation commissions, the role of commemoration days and education, financial, medical and psychological assistance to victims, the restoration of democratic institutions and the rule of law, domestic and/or international criminal prosecutions and trials of those responsible for the atrocities etc.
The course also addresses the interplay between these various means and methods of transitional justice and seeks to identify the relations between the nature of the conflict on the one hand and the optimal choice of means to achieve goals such as truth, reconciliation, accountability and non-recurrence of atrocities in the affected society.
Finally, the course attempts to discover and analyse the domestic as well as the international interests and strategies involved in a transitional justice process, and how they relate to international security issues.
Content
- Transitional Justice: Mechanisms, Means and Strategies;
- International Law, Political Theories and International Relations relevant to Transitional Justice;
- Participants in Transitional Justice;
- Cases of Transitional Justice;
- Transitional Justice and International Security: the Interplay between various Interests and Institutions
Learning goals
Through this course, students will develop advanced specialised knowledge of the field of transitional justice and international security. To that end, students should by the end of this course be able to:
- Present a sound and critical understanding of the concepts, modes and practices of transitional justice and the norms that apply to it;
- Demonstrate cognitive skills to critically analyse various transitional justice strategies, dilemmas and scenarios; and
- Be able to undertake an in-depth examination of international relations and international criminal law issues arising in the context and realities of transitional justice and relevant case-studies.
Literature
Readings: Selected readings from relevant books, journals and primary sources will be made available on Blackboard before the course starts and during the course. In total, the course literature will be 900-1000 pp. Students are required to read the course literature specified in the syllabus prior to the relevant course sessions.
Teaching Method
30 lessons over 10 weeks. The course is taught in a comparative way, analysing different cases and mechanism of transitional justice. The teaching is interactive, and students are expected to participate actively in classroom discussions. The students will develop their analytical skills and ability to make reflective, nuanced judgments by discussing real-life cases and challenges in class.
The course will also include a visit to the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Copenhagen to discuss the realities and international significance of transitional justice with Danish practitioners. In addition, students will be offered to participate in an optional study tour to The Hague in the Netherlands where they will meet with staff from various international transitional justice mechanisms, including the International Criminal Court. Students have to cover their own expenses. Details will be announced in class.
Teacher:
Martin Mennecke, Department of Law
Workload
270 hours for 10 ECTS
Activity Time (hours)
Classroom Lectures 30
Case Study Activities 9
Preparation for class 157
Visit to Foreign Ministry in Copenhagen 8
Preparation for exam and exam 66
Examination regulations
Exam
Name
Exam
Timing
Exam: January
Reexam: February
Rules
-3 is not allowed, 00 is not allowed
Tests
Exam
Name
Exam
Form of examination
Synopsis with oral examination
Censorship
Second examiner: Internal
Grading
7-point grading scale
Identification
Student Identification Card - Date of birth
Language
English
Duration
20 minutes oral examination based on a written synopsis, without preparation, internal grading with co-examiner. Synopsis submission date will appear on the examination plan (no later than 2 weeks prior to the final oral exam).
Length
Synopsis subject to the following limitations and conditions: max. 5 numbered pages with the total count of strokes stated on the first page (each page with 2,400 keystrokes spacing, appendix and notes included, but table of content and bibliography excluded). Synopsis papers exceeding the space limit will be rejected.
Examination aids
All exam aids allowed.
Assignment handover
Self-chosen subject within the thematic framework of the course.
Assignment handin
Via SDU-assignment in the course on Blackboard.
ECTS value
9
Additional information
Before taking the oral exam, a synopsis on a topic of the student's own choice within the course’s thematic framework must be handed in. Students will receive one single grade which will reflect the quality of the synopsis and the performance at the oral examination. A blank synopsis will automatically yield a failed mark. If the synopsis is not handed in in due time, the exam is automatically failed. Re-examination in all cases requires (re-)submission of a synopsis. The oral exam will take the synopsis as starting point and then spread out into the course curriculum.
Registration for the course is automatically a registration for the ordinary examination in the course. Cancellation is not possible. If the student does not participate in the examination, the student will use an examination attempt.
The university may grant an exemption from the rules in case of exceptional circumstances.
For the re-exam the student can re-submit the original synopsis paper.
Examination form at the re-exam can be changed.
EKA
B430004102
Mandatory assignment
Name
Mandatory assignment
Form of examination
Compulsory assignment
Censorship
Second examiner: None
Grading
Pass/Fail
Identification
Student Identification Card - Exam number
Language
English
Duration
15-20 minutes
ECTS value
1
Additional information
During the second half of the course, each student or two students jointly will make a 15-20 minute presentation in class on a transitional justice case study to illustrate the challenges and concepts of transitional justice. Details regarding the presentation and the selection of case-studies will be discussed in the first session of the course.
As exception, students who are not able to attend the course in person can, upon approval by the instructor, for this part of the examination submit a written presentation about a transitional justice case study (5 pages).
Students whose oral or written case-study was graded as “failed” have twoone additional attempt at meeting the first part of the examination. They will have to make another, improved oral presentation or submit another, improved written presentation of a case-study. The dates for all presentations will be determined by the teacher.
EKA
B430004112
External comment
NOTE - This course is identical with the former course 97013101,Transitional Justice and International Security.
Used examination attempts in the former identical course will be transferred.
Courses that are identical with former courses that are passed according to applied rules cannot be retaken.
The student is automatically registered for the first examination attempt when the student is registered for a course or course element with which one or more examinations are associated. Withdrawal of registration is not possible, and students who fail to participate in an examination have used one examination attempt, unless the University has made an exemption due to special circumstances.
If a student does not meet the established university prerequisites for taking the exam, he or she has used one examination attempt, unless the University has made an exemption due to special circumstances.
Courses offered
| Offer period | Offer type | Profile | Education | Semester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall 2018 | Optional | Studieordning for kandidatuddannelsen i statskundskab gældende for studerende optaget efter 1/9-15 | Master of Science (MSc) in Political Science | Odense | |
| Fall 2018 | Optional | Master in International Security and Law - valid from September 2018 | Master of International Security and Law | Master of Science (MSc) in International Security and Law | Odense | |
| Fall 2018 | Optional | Master in International Security and Law - valid from September 2017 | Master of International Security and Law | Master of Science (MSc) in International Security and Law | Odense | |
| Fall 2018 | Optional | Studieordning for kandidatuddannelsen i samfundsfag, centralfag, 2018, ved et sidefag på 75 ECTS: | Master of Science (MSc) in Social Sciences | Odense | |
| Fall 2018 | Optional | Studieordning for kandidatuddannelsen i samfundsfag, centralfag, 2018, ved et sidefag på 45 ECTS, for studerende der har haft Economic Principles (soc) eller tilsvarende på deres bacheloruddannelse | Master of Science (MSc) in Social Sciences | Odense | |
| Fall 2018 | Optional | Studieordning for kandidatuddannelsen i samfundsfag, centralfag, 2018, ved et sidefag på 75 ECTS, for studerende der har haft Economic Principles (soc) eller tilsvarende på deres bacheloruddannelse | Master of Science (MSc) in Social Sciences | Odense | |
| Fall 2018 | Optional | Studieordning for kandidatuddannelsen i samfundsfag, centralfag, 2018, ved et sidefag på 45 ECTS | Master of Science (MSc) in Social Sciences | Odense |