Studies in law, governance and development consider the role of law in a development context. The field has national and international legal perspectives.

At a national level, law, governance and development considers inter alia relationships among law, social order and institutional change in development contexts. Examples include:

• law and justice in fragile or post-conflict states;
• the role of land and natural resources law in state-building contexts;
• legal pluralism and the relationship between the state and private systems of governance.

International issues include:

• the 'right to development' in international law;
• the role of multilateral development organisations- including UN agencies, the WTO and the World Bank - in the international legal order; and
• the transplantation and harmonisation of law in developing countries through investment treaties and international or regional legal frameworks.

The course will provide an introduction to key theories and sources of literature, and will draw on expert guest lecturers, on these disparate topics. Common threads will include:

• exploration of potential correlations and causative effects involving law and social change in a development context
• exploration of analytical frameworks to enable adaptation of legal models to a development context

The course will be taught intensively over 5 days using a combination of lectures, class discussions and seminar presentations. Expert guest presenters will provide case-studies for focal point discussion and application of theoretical material.

Significant emphasis will be placed on student preparation and active participation in class discussions and seminars. Students will be expected to have completed all readings before each seminar.

On completion of this unit students should be able to:

• demonstrate understanding of key theories and sources of literature in relation to selected topics in law, governance and development
• critically discuss correlations and causative effects involving law and social change in a development context
• critically assess analytical frameworks to enable adaptation of legal models to a development context
• critically assess the contribution and interaction of governance frameworks at thelocal, national and international levels to development outcomes

There will be a research essay of 7,000 - 8,000 words on an approved topic.

The course will be taught in intensive mode over 5 days. Face-to-face classes during this period will be for a total of 26 hours. It is anticipated that students would be required to undertake preparatory reading for the classess of approximately 2 hours for every hour of face-to-face teaching.

Click here for the current timetable

None

It is recommended that students have an interest in, and may have some experience in, relevant fields of law, governnce and development. However, this is not a prerequisite to undertaking the course as the lecturer will direct students to various other materials that will assist them. Students with practical experience will be encouraged to contribute actively to class discussions.

There will be a brick of reading materials comprising a collection of articles and book chapters prepared by the lecturer.

Access to the internet