486 Jurisprudence (Dzah)

LAW486

Jurisprudence: Global South Approaches to International Law

(Dzah)

Prerequisite courses: 

Prerequisite for: 

Instructor(s): Professor Godwin Dzah

Method of presentation: Seminar (combining lectures and discussion)

Teamwork:

METHOD OF EVALUATION

1.   Reflection Paper (400 words) 10%

2.   In-Class Activity (e.g., Presentation/Participation) 10%

3.   Research Proposal (400 words) 20%

4.   Final Research Paper (4000 words) 60%

The research proposal and final research paper must relate to a topic or an aspect of this seminar.

COURSE DESCRIPTION

This course examines the colonial origins of international law and its connection to contemporary developments. We will expand on this underlying theme by investigating how international law’s colonial origins influences aspects of international law. The term “Global South” as used in this class reflects and embraces a conceptual framework that demonstrates connections across the world, including developed or developing regions, and which addresses questions relating to inequality, poverty, gender imbalance, racism, and the treatment of indigenous peoples that are frequently concealed by the formalism of international law. We will draw on examples from natural resource extraction, environmental protection, and new emerging technologies to highlight how the conceptual framework of the “Global South” is present in both highly-developed and developing countries, and the kinds of challenges it poses to law and development.  

Students do not need to have taken the Public International Law course as a prerequisite to taking this seminar. 

SPECIAL COMMENTS

Description updated 2025-26. Please contact the instructor for any specific questions you may have related to this particular course section.

REQUIRED TEXTS (IF ANY)

TBA – TWEN syllabus/reading list (with links to selected readings).