Legal Studies

This course examines ethical references within Spanish and European legal frameworks, specifically, contemporary ethical issues that have arisen in the field of cultural industries. It provides an introduction to the Spanish judicial system, the system of rights and freedoms as outlined in the Constitution, in the European Union and in international law. The course covers the freedom of expression and right to information, configuration of cultural industries, and deontology of information.

This course explores freedom of speech and hate speech and the laws and fine lines around both. Beginning through an American lens, it then compares these concepts with an international, European viewpoint. The course investigates American cases versus European cases.

This course helps students to understand how principles of human rights and social justice underpin social work today. The course introduces students to international human rights frameworks and legislation relevant to social work law and policy. There is a focus on law and policy as it affects social work practice in the UK, particularly in Scotland, and students also consider examples from a wider international field. The course forms a substantial part of the social work degree program and reflects the Standards in Social Work Education set for social work qualifying programs in Scotland. The course welcomes students who are not registered for the social work program but who are interested in how law and policy work together in this important area of social welfare.

This course uses microeconomic theory to understand and evaluate law and public policy. It covers four main economic theory areas: property, contracts, torts, and legal processes. The economic theory of property section covers bargaining, protection of property rights, and the economics of government taking. In economic theories of contracts, topics include remedies as incentives, formation defenses, and performance excuses. Economic theory of torts examines tort liability, evidentiary uncertainty, punitive damages, and product liability law. The final section on economic theory of legal processes covers why people sue, settlement bargaining, and trials and appeals. 

The course poses questions about the importance of human rights relative to other good and values; the supposed "universality" of human rights; the troubled relationship between international human rights law and national law; the effectiveness of the regional and global protection of human rights; and the relevance of human rights in a world of stark global inequalities, mass migration, and rapid climate change.

China’s rise posts various challenges to conventional thinking about law, society and economic development, especially after the 2008 global financial crisis. How can China offset its institutional weaknesses at home while achieving impressive economic results worldwide without moving closer to the existing models of western countries? Is China’s transition really unique in terms of East Asian experiences such as those of Taiwan, Japan, and Korea? Also, China’s experience illustrates a latecomer paradox: Does the latecomer have an advantage as a result of quick replication of institutional innovation and technology? Conversely, do latecomer states lack the incentive to carry out fundamental reforms as a result of easy success? This course examines China’s experience in the context of law, society and development and explores whether and what lessons they provide for conventional development thinking. It compares China with Taiwan and other East Asian countries and examines a wide range of legal institutions and their practices, including political system, corruption control, contract, property, banking, corporate law, foreign investment and trade and study how such institutions interact with existing ones in the context of local economic conditions, societal and political networks, and legal culture legacy. Assessment: Class Performance (20%), final paper (80%).