INTERNATIONAL JUSTICE and ATROCITIES Semester: Fall 2019
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University of Houston Law Center Syllabus – International Justice and Atrocities (Fall 2019) Professor Zachary D. Kaufman Updated: November 10, 2019 WRS: INTERNATIONAL JUSTICE AND ATROCITIES SYLLABUS Semester: Fall 2019 Course Number: 7397 Location: Bates Law Building 113 Time: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 2:30 PM – 4:00 PM Zachary D. Kaufman, J.D., Ph.D. Associate Professor of Law & Political Science Office Hours: By appointment (via email). Email: [email protected] Website: www.zacharykaufman.com I. COURSE INFORMATION A. COURSE DESCRIPTION Atrocity crimes—including genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity—continue to rage around the world, from Syria and South Sudan to Iraq and Myanmar. This course examines origins, operations, and outcomes of historical and contemporary international justice measures to address such heinous offenses. We will consider the full range of judicial, legislative, and executive “transitional justice” mechanisms available to policymakers as societies emerge from periods of violence and repression. These mechanisms include war crimes tribunals (such as the International Criminal Court), truth commissions, amnesties, lustration, exile, indefinite detention, lethal force, and inaction. The course draws on various case studies, including present-day Syria, Iraq, and Myanmar; Rwanda and the Balkans in the 1990s; and World War II. Readings address the legal, political, and philosophical underpinnings of justice; questions of institutional design; and how different societies have balanced competing legal, policy, and moral imperatives. B. CONTENT CAUTION This course focuses on international justice for atrocity crimes, including genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity. Course materials and discussions may include disturbing images and accounts. Please let me know if you have any concerns about reading, viewing, or engaging with such material and I will work with you to find an appropriate accommodation. C. LEARNING OUTCOMES By the end of the course, you will: ▪ Appreciate much of the seminal literature on the history and theories of international justice; ▪ Comprehend the objectives, obstacles, and options of international justice; ▪ Grasp and be able to critically analyze key concepts and debates in international justice; ▪ Understand and have evaluated, compared, and contrasted key case studies; ▪ Be able to apply your skills and knowledge to other case studies; and ▪ Have practiced and developed your research, writing, and oral communication skills. 1 University of Houston Law Center Syllabus – International Justice and Atrocities (Fall 2019) Professor Zachary D. Kaufman Updated: November 10, 2019 D. COURSE CREDITS, TYPE, AND GRADING • Number of Credits: This course is 3 credits. • Type of Course: This course is a writing seminar (“WRS”). According to the UHLC Student Handbook: “Students in a Writing Seminar must complete a paper that is original and demonstrates the student’s research and writing skills.” • Grade Computation: Elements used in grading: Attendance, Participation, and Final Paper. o Attendance and Participation (20%): ▪ Attendance: You are expected to attend every class session. If you fail to attend at least 80% of class sessions, you will be in violation of ABA and UHLC policy and may be dropped from the course. I will keep track of attendance by passing around a sign-in sheet. It is an honor code violation to sign in for another student. Late arrivals may be treated as absences. ▪ Participation: Participation in class discussion is necessary both for your own understanding of the material and for the benefit of your classmates. I expect you to be prepared for every class. If, for any reason, you are not prepared for a class, please let me know in advance via email and I will not call on you that day. Being unprepared more than twice during the semester will affect your grade. ▪ In-class simulation: During the penultimate class session, we will hold an in- class simulation. Details will be provided by the third-to-last class session. Your participation in this simulation will count towards your overall participation grade. o Paper (80%): ▪ Description: Please write an independent research paper on a topic related to international justice and atrocity crimes. ▪ Deadlines: • Proposal: The proposal for your paper is due to me by class session 10 (Thursday, September 19, 2019, at 2:30 pm CT). • Draft: A draft of your paper is due to me by class session 20 (Thursday, October 24, 2019, at 2:30 pm CT). • Final Version: The final version of your paper is due to me by Wednesday, December 11, 2019, at 11:59 pm CT. ▪ Proposal: Please include in your proposal as much information as you would like to give me a good sense of the topic. The more you include, the more on which I will be able to provide feedback. Please feel free to include: (1) a brief description of the topic (1 to 3 paragraphs), (2) a preliminary list of sources (5-10 articles and / or books), and (3) any questions you have for me about the nature or scope of the project. Please also feel free to schedule a time to meet with me before you submit your proposal to discuss options you are considering or the scope of a particular topic. ▪ Length: Per the UHLC’s Student Handbook guidance on WRS- designated courses: “Regardless of credit hours, the final version of the paper must be at least 10,000 words, including footnotes. Instructors may require longer papers.” The draft of your final paper may be less than 10,000 words, including footnotes, but the final version of your paper must be at least 10,000 words, including footnotes. If you are interested in writing a 2 University of Houston Law Center Syllabus – International Justice and Atrocities (Fall 2019) Professor Zachary D. Kaufman Updated: November 10, 2019 substantially longer paper, please include a statement to that effect in your proposal. ▪ Formatting: For the proposal, draft, and final version of your paper, please double space lines, set font to Times New Roman 12 point, and set margins to 1 inch all around. ▪ Submission Process: Please submit the proposal, draft, and final version of your paper in both of the following ways: • Hard copy to my office. • Via email to me. • Citations: Please use Bluebook format for citations. For guidance on citations, please see the UHLC Student Handbook, particularly the Honor Code (including the UHLC Plagiarism Policy). E. STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES Per the UHLC Student Handbook: “Requests for accommodations should be directed first to the Associate Dean for Student Affairs, with appeal to the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs. Students with disabilities who feel that their requests for accommodations have not been appropriately addressed by the Law Center should address these complaints to the Executive Director of Affirmation Action (713) 743-8835.” F. STUDENT HEALTH Per the UHLC Student Handbook: “Physical or mental health problems can adversely affect a student’s academic performance. Students may wish to seek counseling from the University Office of Counseling and Testing at (713) 743-5454, or from the University of Houston Medical Health Service Center at (713) 743-5151.” The University of Houston’s Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) (http://www.uh.edu/caps) can help students who are having difficulty managing stress, adjusting to the demands of a professional program, or feeling sad and hopeless. To schedule an appointment with CAPS, please call (713) 743-5454. No appointment is necessary for the “Let’s Talk” program (http://www.uh.edu/caps/outreach/lets_talk.html), a drop-in consultation service at convenient locations and hours around campus. G. CELL PHONES Please silence cell phones during class and keep them in your pocket or bag. H. PLACARDS Please come to each class with a placard with your name on it and please keep the placard facing me during class. I. COURSE EVALUATIONS Your feedback about the course is important and greatly appreciated. You will have two opportunities to provide feedback formally: a mid-term evaluation at class session 15 (on Tuesday, October 8) and a final evaluation at the final class session (on Thursday, November 21). In addition, please contact me to provide any additional feedback informally. 3 University of Houston Law Center Syllabus – International Justice and Atrocities (Fall 2019) Professor Zachary D. Kaufman Updated: November 10, 2019 J. FILM SCREENINGS (OPTIONAL) I will host screenings of some course-related films outside of class time. Attendance is purely optional. I will provide more information about these screenings in class. K. LAPTOPS Although I strongly recommend that you take notes with pen and paper, you may take notes on a laptop. While you are in class, however, you may not browse the Internet, check e-mail or social media, or use Instant Messenger. Doing so is not only disrespectful and unprofessional, but a growing body of scholarly literature suggests that it is apt to impair your performance, as well as the performance of all those sitting nearby.1 If you have any doubt about your ability to comply with this policy, please do not bring a laptop to class. L. CHATHAM HOUSE RULE ON DISCUSSION AND ATTRIBUTION Classroom discussions are subject to the Chatham House rule: participants are free to use the information received, but neither the identity nor the affiliation of the speakers, nor that of any other participant, may be revealed. This rule, which applies to students and any guest speakers, is meant to encourage frank discussion and allow students and guest speakers to try out arguments. Robust but respectful debate is encouraged. If you have any questions or concerns about class discussions—or feel in any way uncomfortable speaking in class for any reason—please come see me. As part of the Chatham House rule, any audio or visual recording of class is prohibited. The only exceptions to this policy will be announced by me in writing, such as to arrange for the law school to record any make-up classes that might become necessary.