GOVT-588 Criminal Law and Conflict Resolution

Faculty:

Kritz, Brian

In a globalizing world, humankind continues to make rapid advancements in many areas such as medicine and science. However, history has repeatedly shown that humans have yet to learn how to control their aggression. A solution to this dilemma may lie in greater worldwide adherence to the notion of the rule of law, combined with implementation of the study and practice of conflict resolution through the means of the rule of law. In this course, we will embark on an exploration of the meaning and significance of the term rule of law, and its interplay with the field of conflict resolution. The overarching goal of this course is to use the combined strength of the rule of law and conflict resolution to create a global culture of human rights that better controls, or even changes, the current paradigm of constant aggressive behavior by governments, groups, sub-groups, and individuals.

The first portion of the course will explore the theory and main concepts of the rule of law, and will demystify the discipline of law for the non-lawyer. The discipline of law is quite misunderstood by those outside the legal profession, and lawyers have a tendency to silo themselves in law and not engage with non-lawyers committed to peace, practice, and ethics. In addition, law is often taught by law professors as an end to itself, instead of as a means to achieve the resolution of conflict. This lack of understanding and lack of cooperation between law and conflict resolution has contributed to the aforementioned lack of progress in controlling human aggression. The goal of the first portion of the course is to allow the students to fully comprehend the meaning of the rule of law, its potential use in the field of conflict resolution, and to better understand, and communicate with, lawyers engaged in the field, so as to better be able to exercise leadership in the comm!
on search for international, regional, and national peace and reconciliation.

The second portion of the course will consist of explorations of core concepts vital to the issues endemic to the rule of law and conflict resolution, and the implementation of such concepts to real life situations that have caused and might cause aggressive human behavior. In these scenarios, the students will explore lessons learned from the conflicts and the implementation of the rule of law, and consider whether greater cooperation between law, conflict resolution, and other disciplines could produce or could have produced a greater impact upon the problem.

The third and final portion of the course will consist of the practical implementation of the theory of the rule of law and conflict resolution as they pertain to disaffected groups of people in modern society. In a series of exercises and simulations, the students will implement their new understanding of, and appreciation for, the discipline of law, and its interplay with conflict resolution, allowing the students to communicate and work effectively with lawyers committed to the search for an international culture of human rights.

Credits: 3

Prerequisites: None

Course syllabi
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Spring '11: Kritz B (description, file download)

Fall '10: Kritz, B (file download)

Additional syllabi may be available in prior academic years.

Other academic years
There is information about this course number in other academic years:

• 2007-2008 Fall and Spring
• 2009-2010 Fall and Spring
• 2011-2012 Fall and Spring
• 2012-2013 Fall and Spring
• 2013-2014 Fall and Spring

More information
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