Course Description

This course invites students to discover the many aspects of the Rule of Law. The course begins by exploring how culture shapes our understanding of law, drawing insights from literature, such as Shakespeare, and reflecting on how legal principles appear in everyday life. Moving beyond familiar legal frameworks, we consider the diverse perspectives offered by anthropology and history, revealing how different societies have developed their own visions of the Rule of Law.

Then, we examine the core concepts and values underpinning the Rule of Law. We examine the different understandings of the rule of law and the moral and social values that each understanding is meant to reflect. We discuss the principles that define the Rule of Law across various traditions and investigate the institutions and cultural factors that support its realisation. The course also considers the crucial roles played by the actors of the rule of law, focusing on the contribution of lawyers and judges. Finally, we expand our view to the international stage, analysing how the Rule of Law operates within international law.

By the end of the course, students will have gained a richer, more nuanced understanding of the Rule of Law, its many interpretations, and its significance both locally and globally.

Course Learning Outcomes

On completing the course, students will be able to:

1. Demonstrate understanding of the basic concepts of the Rule of Law.
2. Describe the evolution of the principle of the Rule of Law in different societies, and, to a minor extent, internationally.
3. Identify the different meanings and goals of the Rule of Law, and the institutions and cultural conditions for realising them.
4. Analyze the role of international law in relation to the Rule of Law.

Offer Semester and Day of Teaching

Second semester (Wed)