Global Legal History (248-0-20)

Instructors

Helen Tilley
Helen Tilley studies African colonial and postcolonial history with a particular focus on medical, racial, environmental, and anthropological themes. She is finishing a book on the history of traditional medicine and its relationship to African decolonization, global governance, and ethnoscientific research during the Cold War.

Meeting Info

Annenberg Hall G21: Mon, Wed 2:00PM - 3:20PM

Overview of class

This class examines the legal foundations that have created and sustained global inequalities. Through lectures and discussions, we will trace key concepts and their histories, including revolutions and rights, capital and crime, police and property, sedition and social movements, genocide and justice, self and sovereignty, and terror and truth. This will include laws governing outer space, satellites, and artificial intelligence. We will dive into controversial topics each week often connecting them to current events. To what extent, for instance, have international legal regimes arisen out of empires? Why were slavery and settler colonialism so important to many countries' constitutions? How did multinational corporations secure more rights than sovereign states? This course takes up these and other questions in order to make sense of the interplay between laws, empires, states, and corporations around the world over the last four centuries (circa 1600 to 2000).

Cross-listed with HISTORY 248-0

Learning Objectives

To increase your knowledge of global and transnational history; to deepen your understanding of the historical interplay among law, empire, and global governance; and to refine your expository writing skills.

Evaluation Method

Op-ed essays, reading responses, interviews (with guests), final project

Class Attributes

Historical Studies Foundational Discipline
Social and Behavioral Science Foundational Discipl
Global Perspectives on Power, Justice, and Equity
SoC Individual and Social Behavior Distro

Enrollment Requirements

Enrollment Requirements: Antirequisite: Student may not receive credit for both LEGAL_ST 248-0 and HISTORY 248-0.

Associated Classes

DIS - University Hall 101: Fri 10:00AM - 10:50AM

DIS - University Hall 101: Fri 11:00AM - 11:50AM

DIS - University Library 5722: Fri 11:00AM - 11:50AM

DIS - University Hall 101: Fri 12:00PM - 12:50PM

DIS - University Hall 218: Fri 12:00PM - 12:50PM

DIS - University Library 5722: Fri 1:00PM - 1:50PM