Law

Law and Development

Module code: M3112
Level 6
15 credits in spring semester
Teaching method: Seminar
Assessment modes: Essay

On this module, you’ll examine the role of law and the legal system in human development within developing countries. You’ll explore:

  • how law influences a country’s development
  • how modes of development drive legal change
  • the history and theory of law and development, including post-colonial critiques.

Specific topics include:

  • access to justice
  • human rights in the development process
  • governance, democracy, and development
  • technical legal assistance
  • foreign direct investment.

This module encourages critical thinking about the complex interplay between law, development and post-colonial contexts.

Module learning outcomes

  • Demonstrate a critical understanding of the history and theory of law's impact on `development processes'.
  • Evaluate the operation of the law in `development processes' and the impact of `development' on the operation of legal systems.
  • Use both legal and non-legal research resources in order to complete a piece of independent research which relates to the course.
  • Demonstrate a detailed knowledge of the debates in relation to the concept of `development' and the role of human rights in relation to the concept of `development' and `development processes'.