State Crime
| Module title | State Crime |
|---|---|
| Module code | POC3110 |
| Academic year | 2020/1 |
| Credits | 15 |
| Module staff | Dr Owen Thomas (Convenor) |
| Duration: Term | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duration: Weeks | 11 |
| Number students taking module (anticipated) | 25 |
|---|
Module description
This module will introduce you to the study of State Crime. You will consider questions such as: What is state crime? What scales and types of crimes are committed by agents and agencies of the state? What is at stake in defining and labelling these acts as criminal? What forces, structures and relations of power explain acts of state crime? What role does, and should, government and society play in addressing state crime? You will explore a range of domestic and international case studies, including some of the following: state-sponsored terrorism, state-corporate crime and corruption, domestic and international criminal justice, racial discrimination, immigration and asylum policy, organized crime, drugs and human trafficking, lawfare and war crimes. The module is formally assessed through an in-class presentation and a research essay based on a topic of your choice.
The module is highly interdisciplinary in nature, drawing on research from Political Science and International Relations, Sociology, Law, Criminology, Economics and History. No pre-requisite modules are required to take this module and it is suitable for any student with basic experience and aptitude for undergraduate social science.
Module aims - intentions of the module
This module will:
- Introduce you to theoretical and conceptual approaches to the analysis of state crime.
- Encourage you to apply these approaches to the analysis of contemporary real world examples of alleged state crime, but also to use these cases to reflexively evaluate the approaches themselves.
- Allow you to develop your own rigorous and independent research-led analysis of chosen case studies.
Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
ILO: Module-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 1. Discuss, analyze and critically evaluate competing theoretical perspectives on the definition, analysis and explanation of state crime.
- 2. Apply, and defend the application of, chosen perspectives to cases of state crime, whilst identifying and appraising the limitations and contingent assumptions of each perspective.
- 3. Develop knowledge and independent analysis of a range of types and case studies of state crime.
ILO: Discipline-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 4. Apply and critically evaluate complex theoretical approaches to real life examples.
- 5. Recognise and assess theoretical assumptions embedded in existing popular and academic analyses of contemporary issues.
ILO: Personal and key skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 6. Devise, revise and express a clear, logical and independent analysis of a given political issue. Communicate this analysis to a range of different audiences.
- 7. Understand assessment criteria, engage in constructive peer-evaluation, produce feedback and develop suggestions for improvement.
- 8. Collaborate effectively with peers in order to formulate, revise and present ideas and facilitate discussions.
- 9. Critically reflect on your own performance and contribution toward individual and group tasks, and develop strategies for future personal development.
Syllabus plan
Whilst the module’s precise content may vary from year to year, it is envisaged that the syllabus will cover some or all of the following topics:
- Crimes against humanity
- Genocide
- Torture
- State-sponsored terrorism
- Transitional justice and historic allegations
- State-corporate crime
- Private Security
- Institutional racism
- Asylum policy
- Prisons and punishment
- Women and the Criminal Justice System
- Crime and Globalization
- Organized crime
- Deviance and social control
Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
|---|---|---|
| 22 | 128 | 0 |
Details of learning activities and teaching methods
| Category | Hours of study time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | 22 | 11x2-hour seminars |
| Guided Independent Study | 58 | Reading assignments and preparing responses for seminar questions |
| Guided Independent Study | 46 | Research and composition of essay |
| Guided independent study | 24 | Research and preparation of student-led seminar |
Formative assessment
| Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Respondent to Student-Led Seminar | 5 minutes | 1-8 | Oral |
| Essay Plan | 1,000 words | 1-6 | Oral |
| Peer Reviews of Essay Plans | 5 minutes | 1-9 | Oral |
Summative assessment (% of credit)
| Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
|---|---|---|
| 80 | 0 | 20 |
Details of summative assessment
| Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Group project | 20 | 500 words or 5 minutes per student in a group | 1-8 | Written |
| Research Essay | 80 | 4,000 words | 1-6 | Written |
Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)
| Original form of assessment | Form of re-assessment | ILOs re-assessed | Timescale for re-assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Group project | Group project (500 words or 5 minutes) | 1-8 | August/September reassessment period |
| Research Essay | Research Essay (4,000 words) | 1-6 | August/September reassessment period |
Indicative learning resources - Basic reading
Basic reading:
- Aas, K.F., 2013. Globalization and crime. SAGE
- Natarajan, M. ed., 2010. International crime and justice. Cambridge University Press.
- Garland, D., 2001. The culture of control (Vol. 367). Oxford: Oxford University Press.
- Chambliss, W.J., Michalowski, R. and Kramer, R. eds., 2013. State crime in the global age. Willan.
- Green, P. and Ward, T., 2004. State crime: Governments, violence and corruption. Pluto Press.
- Rothe, D.L., 2009. State criminality: The crime of all crimes. Lexington Books.
- Veitch, S., 2007. Law and irresponsibility: On the legitimation of human suffering. Routledge.
- Norrie, A., 2014. Crime, reason and history: A critical introduction to criminal law. Cambridge University Press.
| Credit value | 15 |
|---|---|
| Module ECTS | 7.5 |
| Module pre-requisites | None |
| Module co-requisites | None |
| NQF level (module) | 6 |
| Available as distance learning? | No |
| Origin date | 03/09/2020 |
