Module LAW3206 for 2021/2
- Overview
- Aims and Learning Outcomes
- Module Content
- Indicative Reading List
- Assessment
Undergraduate Module Descriptor
LAW3206: Terrorism, Counter-terrorism and International Law
This module descriptor refers to the 2021/2 academic year.
Module Content
Syllabus Plan
Whilst the module’s precise content may vary from year to year, it is envisaged that the syllabus is likely to cover some of the following topics:
Terrorism and armed conflicts
- terrorism in the context of global or regional security
- nuclear, chemical and biological terrorism
- spreading terror in armed conflict
- foreign fighters phenomenon
- terrorism as an obstacle in the delivery of humanitarian aid
International and transnational crimes and international justice
- terrorism as international crime
- terrorism and organised transnational crime networks (drug-trafficking, piracy, hostage taking, bombings and mass killing)
- terrorist financing
- international criminal justice in relation to acts of terrorism
- International Special Tribunal for Lebanon
- military courts- Guantanamo Bay trials- case study
Counter-terrorism and human rights
- counter-terrorism legislation and democratic oversight
- detention, prosecution and the right to a fair trial
- torture and counter-terrorism
- extraordinary renditions- case study
Terrorist and anti-terrorist strategies on the use of social media, Internet and communication technologies, and charitable or humanitarian organisations.
United Nations and international cooperation to combat terrorism
- UN Office on Drugs and Crimes- Terrorism Prevention branch
- Role of UN in prevention of violent terrorism
- Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (Da’esh) and Al-Qaida sanctions regime
- Responses of regional organisations to combatting terrorism
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 27 | 123 | 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 | 16.5 | 11 x 1.5 hour interactive lectures (i.e. requiring active student participation) |
| Scheduled learning and teaching activities | 7.5 | 5 x 1.5 hour seminars |
| Scheduled learning and teaching activities | 3 | Exeter Centre for International Law events |
| Guided independent study | 60 | Assigned seminar preparation and lecture readings |
| Guided independent study | 18 | Preparation of formative assessment |
| Guided independent study | 45 | Research for and writing of summative assessment |
Online Resources
This module has online resources available via ELE (the Exeter Learning Environment).
SHERLOC: https://sherloc.unodc.org/cld/v3/sherloc/
Legal instruments UN compilations : https://www.un.org/counterterrorism/international-legal-instruments
The International Bar Association (IBA) and the Open Society Justice Initiative high-level panel discussion marking the release of the report Terrorism and International Law: Accountability, Remedies, and Reform:
Other Learning Resources
American Journal of International Law (AJIL)
European Journal of International Law (EJIL)
International and Comparative Law Quarterly (ICLQ)
Journal of International Criminal Justice (JICJ)
Leiden Journal of International Law (LJIL)
Journal of Conflict and Security Law (JCSL)
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Individual rapid fire presentation and poster (on a topic agreed with the module convenor) | 7.5 minutes plus the equivalent of 500 words | 1-6 | Individual oral and written feedback |
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 (on a topic agreed with the module convenor) | 80 | 2,200 words | 1-6 | Individual written feedback with percentage grade |
| Individual reflective commentary | 20 | 300 words | 1-6 | Individual written feedback with percentage grade |
| 0 | ||||
| 0 | ||||
| 0 | ||||
| 0 |
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 (2,200 words) | 1-6 | August/September re-assessment period |
| Individual reflective commentary | Individual reflective commentary (300 words) | 1-6 | August/September re-assessment period |
Re-assessment notes
A new re-assessment topic will have to be agreed with the convenor as this will be different to the original topic on which the failed summative essay was written.
