This course introduces students to the legal systems of Southeast Asia, an area of immediate importance to Australia. Legally speaking, the area is one of the most complex in the world. It comprises a range of customary, Islamic and State laws. These laws exist today in varying combinations, occasionally in harmony and, not infrequently, in conflict.

Part 1 considers legal transplantation, pluralism and the rule of law in Southeast Asia.

Part 2 will focus on constitutions, corporate governance and land law, as representative case-study of law-in-action in Southeast Asia.

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The learning outcomes will include:

Enhanced knowledge and understanding of the relationship between law and society in key south-east Asian legal systems.

Enhanced knowledge of fundamental laws in selected south-east Asian countries.

Enhanced student competence in fundamental skills or researching and analysing socio-legal issues in Southeast Asia.

Research Paper - 90%
Students may submit a topic of their own choice for approval by the course convenor. Alternatively, they may choose a topic from a choice of four topics to be provided by the convenor prior to commencement of the class. The research paper will involve the definition of relevant legal or socio-legal issues, an extended review and analysis of key aspects of the literature, and an application of analytical arguments derived from the literature review to a relevant case-study(or case-studies).

Student Participation - 10%
The course is structured so as to be interactive in nature. In addition to the core reading there will be elective readings divided according to country. At times in the course students will be asked to form groups in accordance with their selected elective item of reading. The group, or designated group representatives, will then:

• provide a summary of their reading item
• discuss the implications of their reading for key themes of the course.

To support this approach there will be a small class participation mark. Students are required to attend and participate in all the classes scheduled for this topic.

Three hours of face-to-face teaching per week plus additional private study.

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Materials will be provided on the course WATTLE site

Internet access