Legal Studies

This course introduces the analysis of the foundations of public order from the perspective of analytical political theory. This basis provides the conceptual tools for approaching a central issue in political theory: the justification of political obligation and contestation. The study of the justification of public institutions reviews some of the key approaches in political philosophy (deontology; consequentialism) and analytical political theories (contractualism; utilitarianism). The course addresses questions of moral right to command and a moral duty to obey; whether individual autonomy and political authority are compatible; whether voluntarily accepting an obligation is to be bound by it; why must we obey the laws even if the personal costs of obedience are very high; whether we are ever morally justified in disobeying unjust laws; and if exemptions from the law for reasons of conscience can ever be justified.

This course analyzes the theory of constitutional law, the fundamental concepts contained in a constitution-- in particular the Mexican constitution. It discusses federalism, its development in Mexico, and its distinction from other forms of government. Topics include: society, state, and law; concept and location of constitutional law; concept of a constitution; classification of constitutions; ideological aspects of constitutional law; constitutional power; constitutional supremacy; constitutional reform; human rights; forms of state; federation as a form of state; past forms of government in Mexico; evolution of Mexican constitutional law.

This course examines the application of legal considerations to the activities of organizations. The focus is on a practical approach to legal issues and problems that arise. If I want to start a business what structures are available to me, such as forming a company? When is a legal contract formed, how can it be breached and what remedies may be available? What rights do employees have in the workplace, particularly in relation to dismissal, redundancy and discrimination? How does the English Legal System work? How can my valuable original work be protected from imitation and what are copyrights and patents?

The course deals with substantive, procedural and political issues relating to international criminal justice, its origins, reach, legitimacy, and articulation with (post-) conflict management and peace making. It covers historical and recent international and national efforts undertaken to address these crimes. After presenting the framework and principles of international criminal justice, the course discusses contemporaneous issues. Experts and practitioners contribute to equipping students with the tools necessary to understand the role and impact of justice in international affairs.

The course introduces the study of global crime and justice, a developing field of inquiry which examines the impact of global changes on issues that pertain to crime and punishment. The purpose of the course is to both study criminal phenomena and the available responses to them on the global level as well as to explore the ways in which these issues supplement but also challenge our conventional thinking about crime and punishment. In that sense, the course covers key problems that pertain to global crime and justice and also provides the students with the necessary skills to critically assess the challenges posed by supranational phenomena and the adequacy of responses that we currently have.

The course provides a general and comprehensive approach to world affairs while introducing the international legal perspective. It covers both the essentials of public international law and particular legal regimes such as coercion, use of force, human rights, State territory, and space law with respect to selected world affairs and international conflicts. The course highlights the interaction between international politics and law and the role of international law in the world governance. It’s focus both on theory and practice and on interdisciplinarity allows a better understanding of international negotiation, norm-making, legal argumentation, and interpretative techniques.

This introductory course aims to give students basic familiarity with the systems and language of law in England, the United States, and Australia. The course also aims to provide students some degree of confidence in tackling the difficult task of reading primary legal materials (cases and statutes) from these countries, which is essential in their future work as legal professionals or white-collar workers.

This course analyzes the rights linked to European citizenship as well as for those residing in the EU territory. It explores case law developed by the Court of Justice of the European Union, as well as the tools available for civil society to participate in the policies and decision-making processes in the EU. It focuses on the means of communication that EU citizens and residents have before the institutions of the European Union for expressing their opinion, practical needs and concerns.

In this course, the topic of human rights is explored from a legal perspective, but with a view to discussing the salience of current political debates about human rights and against the background of the historical development of this field of international law.

Topics include

• Basic features of the protection of human rights in the international legal system I: Historical development and UN level
• Basic features of the protection of human rights in the international legal system II: The European regional level
• Critical perspectives on human rights
• Extraterritorial application of human rights
• Climate change litigation before human rights courts and treaty bodies
• Human rights in the digital sphere
• Decolonization and human rights
• Indigenous peoples and human rights
• Human rights in the urban age: The role of cities and local governments
• The Relevance of the African Human Rights System in the Urban Age

This course explores the essential elements of electoral law that regulates the election of government officials. It analyzes the Mexican electoral system including electoral zones, registration procedures, state financing, voter registration, candidacies, political parties, propaganda, vote counting, and electoral observation.