Module POLM152 for 2019/0
- Overview
- Aims and Learning Outcomes
- Module Content
- Indicative Reading List
- Assessment
Postgraduate Module Descriptor
POLM152: Post-Conflict Human Rights and Transitional Justice
This module descriptor refers to the 2019/0 academic year.
Module Aims
The module aims to provide a conceptual and analytical framework with which to understand the link between peace building and human rights in post-conflict contexts, primarily through developing a critical understanding of transitional justice. you will develop a strong theoretical and conceptual understanding of transitional justice, including its different elements such as truth seeking, justice, accountability and non-recurrence. Drawing from an array of inter-disciplinary literature, you will critically evaluate the different approaches to transitional justice and assess its role vis-à-vis strengthening human rights and peace building in the aftermath of armed conflict. You will strengthen your understanding of the practicalities of transitional justice in post-conflict contexts through engagement with selected empirical case studies from different regions and innovative teaching, including multi-media and direct engagement with field experts. The course offers an opportunity to understand post-conflict dynamics, and to assess the legitimacy and effectiveness of transitional justice.
| On successfully completing the programme you will be able to: | |
|---|---|
| Module-Specific Skills | 1. Demonstrate conceptual and theoretical understanding of transitional justice with capability to critically evaluate the effectiveness of its varying approaches. 2. Demonstrate critical understanding of the peace-rights-justice nexus in post-conflict contexts and the role of transitional justice in these contexts. 3. Differentiate between theoretical analysis and the practical realities of transitional justice, through a focus on specific case studies,. |
| Discipline-Specific Skills | 4. Demonstrate advanced analytical understanding of the significance of issues of transitional justice and human rights within peace and conflict studies. 5. Develop a critical understanding of the field of conflict resolution and post-conflict reconstruction, including the role of international actors. |
| Personal and Key Skills | 6. Independently research, critically evaluate and analyse inter-disciplinary literature. 7. Make rigorous and persuasive arguments and convey them coherently, analytically and convincingly verbally and in writing. 8. Develop policy analysis skills through combining academic and theoretical work with case studies and expert interviews. |
How this Module is Assessed
In the tables below, you will see reference to 'ILO's. An ILO is an Intended Learning Outcome - see Aims and Learning Outcomes for details of the ILOs for this module.
Formative Assessment
A formative assessment is designed to give you feedback on your understanding of the module content but it will not count towards your mark for the module.
| Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seminar discussion questions | Each week you will have to formulate your position to questions provided in the handbook, discuss and debate with colleagues during the seminar. | 1-8 | Verbal |
Summative Assessment
A summative assessment counts towards your mark for the module. The table below tells you what percentage of your mark will come from which type of assessment.
| Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
|---|---|---|
| 85 | 0 | 15 |
...and this table provides further details on the summative assessments for this module.
| Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Essay | 50 | 5000 words | 1-8 | Written |
| Policy report | 35 | 3000 words | 1-3, 7, 8 | Written |
| Presentation | 15 | 15 minutes | 1-5, 7, 8 | Verbal |
Re-assessment
Re-assessment takes place when the summative assessment has not been completed by the original deadline, and the student has been allowed to refer or defer it to a later date (this only happens following certain criteria and is always subject to exam board approval). For obvious reasons, re-assessments cannot be the same as the original assessment and so these alternatives are set. In cases where the form of assessment is the same, the content will nevertheless be different.
| Original form of assessment | Form of re-assessment | ILOs re-assessed | Timescale for re-assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essay | Essay (5,000 words) | 1-8 | August/September reassessment period |
| Policy report | Policy Report (3,000 words) | 1-3, 7, 8 | August/September reassessment period |
| Presentation | Written briefing (1,000 words) | 1-5, 7, 8 | August/September reassessment period |
