Module LAWM146 for 2021/2
- Overview
- Aims and Learning Outcomes
- Module Content
- Indicative Reading List
- Assessment
Postgraduate Module Descriptor
LAWM146: Dignity, Democracy and the Law
This module descriptor refers to the 2021/2 academic year.
Module Aims
The module closely follows political developments and international discussion on human dignity, human rights and democracy. Drawing on the module convenor’s internationally recognised research in this field, it aims to provide you with a cutting edge, research-enriched learning opportunity. By studying the connections between human dignity and democracy from a range of perspectives in an interactive and discursive pedagogical environment, this module seeks to enable you to make sense of some of the current challenges to democracy and human rights.
| On successfully completing the programme you will be able to: | |
|---|---|
| Module-Specific Skills | 1. demonstrate detailed knowledge of, and an ability to evaluate critically, a wide range of theoretical issues at the intersection of human dignity, human rights and democracy; 2. demonstrate a deep and systematic knowledge of, and an ability to evaluate critically, a wide range of issues raised by the reliance on human dignity and human rights in treaty law and related case law. |
| Discipline-Specific Skills | 3. use a wide range of sources and materials, including case law from different courts, theoretical and substantive academic commentaries, statutes, constitutions and treaties, in a critical and constructive way; 4. demonstrate flexible and innovative ability to analyse complex legal problems, identify the relative significance of applicable rules and principles, and select appropriate methods for critically evaluating them. |
| Personal and Key Skills | 5. demonstrate independent thinking and ability to construct critical argument effectively, confidently and autonomously; 6. work independently and manage time efficiently in preparing for module activities and assessments; 7. demonstrate confident ability to interact effectively and proactively with a team/learning group, to share information and ideas and to manage disagreement in a professional and constructive manner. |
Module Content
Syllabus Plan
Whilst the precise content may vary from year to year, it is envisaged that the syllabus will cover all or some of the following topics:
- Human dignity and democracy: a global phenomenon
- Philosophical roots
- Human dignity and human rights after 1945
- Human dignity and democracy (Council of Europe)
- Human dignity and civilisation (ECHR)
- Human dignity as first foundational value of the EU (Treaty of Lisbon)
- Human dignity under the EU Charter (Treaty of Lisbon)
- Dignity democracy: key theories and core issues
- The role of law in promoting dignity democracy
Learning and Teaching
This table provides an overview of how your hours of study for this module are allocated:
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
|---|---|---|
| 33 | 267 | 0 |
...and this table provides a more detailed breakdown of the hours allocated to various study activities:
| Category | Hours of study time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | 33 | 22 x 1.5 hour interactive workshops (two per week). Initially, the lecturer will lead workshops, with students expected to become gradually more involved in defining the workshops focus and in leading them. |
| Guided independent study | 150 | Workshop preparation |
| Guided independent study | 117 | Reflection, research, and the preparation of formative and summative assessments. |
Online Resources
This module has online resources available via ELE (the Exeter Learning Environment).
ECJ case law: http://curia.europa.eu
ECHR case law: http://www.echr.coe.int/
Venice Commission: http://www.venice.coe.int/
ELE – https://vle.exeter.ac.uk/
Other Learning Resources
- Primary legal materials (e.g. treaties, constitutions, case law etc. ….) as available on official websites
- Relevant and authoritative blog posts
- Selected video clips/podcasts as available on YouTube, media webpages, and official organisations.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essay plan and draft introduction | 1,000 words | 1-7 | Individual written feedback and general comments to the whole cohort as relevant. |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 100 | 0 | 0 |
...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 | 100 | 7,500 words | 1-7 | Written comments on the feedback sheet, with the opportunity for an individual meeting with the lecturer for further oral feedback. |
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 (7,500 words) | 1-7 | August/September re-assessment period |
Indicative Reading List
This reading list is indicative - i.e. it provides an idea of texts that may be useful to you on this module, but it is not considered to be a confirmed or compulsory reading list for this module.
A Barak, Human Dignity: The Constitutional Value and the Constitutional Right (CUP, 2015)
P Becchi and K Mathis (eds), Handbook of Human Dignity in Europe (Springer, 2019)
D Bedford, C Dupré, G Halmai and P Kapotas (eds), Human Dignity and Democracy in Europe: Identity, Citizenship and Solidarity (E Elgar, 2021)
E Daly, Dignity Rights: Courts, Constitutions and the Worth of the Human Person (University of Pennsylvania Press, 2013)
E Daly and J May, Advanced Introduction to Human Dignity (E Elgar, 2020)
C Dupré, Importing the Law in Post-Communist Transitions, The Hungarian Constitutional Court and the Right to Human Dignity (Hart, 2003)
C Dupré, The Age of Dignity: Human Rights and Constitutionalism in Europe (Hart, 2015)
M Düwell et al (eds), The Cambridge Handbook of Human Dignity (CUP, 2014)
D Grimm, A Kemmerer and C Möllers (eds), Human Dignity in Context (Nomos/Hart, 2018)
G Kateb Human Dignity (Harvard University Press, 2011)
C McCrudden (ed), Understanding Dignity (OUP 2013)
