State Crime

Module title	State Crime
Module code	POLM231
Academic year	2023/4
Credits	30
Module staff	Dr Owen Thomas (Convenor)

Duration: Term	1	2	3
Duration: Weeks	11

Number students taking module (anticipated)	25

Module description

Labelling state behaviour as ‘crime’ distinguishes which actions and harms are (un)necessary, (un)avoidable or (il)legitimate in world politics. But what counts as state crime? What causes it? What can be done to stop it? You will develop your own answers to these question through theories and case studies (such as 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 a student-led seminar and a research essay based on a topic of your choice.

No pre-requisite modules are required to take this module and it is suitable for any student with aptitude for 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 and racial capitalism
Asylum policy
Prisons and punishment
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	278

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

Category	Hours of study time	Description
Scheduled Learning & Teaching activities	22	11 x 2 hour Seminars
Guided Independent Study	90	Reading assignments and preparing responses for seminar questions
Guided Independent Study	138	Research and composition of essay
Guided Independent Study	50	Research and preparation of student-led seminar

Formative assessment

Form of assessment	Size of the assessment (eg length / duration)	ILOs assessed	Feedback method
Essay Plan	500 words	1-6	Written

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
Student-led seminar	20	10 minutes per student in a group (e.g. 3 students, 30 minutes) plus 500 word contribution report	1-9	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
Student-led seminar	Pre-recorded 10-minute presentation plus 500 word report	1-9	August/September reassessment period
Research Essay	Research Essay (4,000 words)	1-6	August/September reassessment period

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

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.

Canning, V. and Tombs, S., 2021. From social harm to zemiology: A critical introduction. Routledge.

Lee, Bandy X. Violence: An interdisciplinary approach to causes, consequences, and cures. John Wiley & Sons, 2019.

Key words search

State crime, responsibility, punishment, justice, violence

Credit value	30
Module ECTS	15
Module pre-requisites	none
Module co-requisites	none
NQF level (module)	7
Available as distance learning?	No
Origin date	19/07/2022