This course asks students to consider the changing role of law (both domestic and international) in the context of globalization. It will include a critical consideration of the framework concept of ‘globalization’, as well as an examination of its implications both for the law of the state and law beyond the state. The course provides an introduction to emerging practices of transnational governance, both those generated by international institutions such as the WTO, the ILO or the World Bank, as well as the wide range of ‘informal’ norms generated by corporations and business networks, consulting and law firms, sectoral organizations, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and expert communities – and by the interactions of some or all of these actors. The premise of the course is that the study of emerging transnational legal regimes needs to be contextualized within a broader understanding of political, social, cultural and economic transformations associated with globalization. To that end, the course will be organized as a series of modules utilizing a range of interdisciplinary materials and drawing on case studies in a number of key areas where global transformations are most acute and/or turbulent. Themes to be considered will include the changing role of the state, models of transnational governance including international economic institutions and networked governance, the expanding role of nonstate actors in these governance models, and the ways in which these changes differentially impact states in the North and the South.
Method of Evaluation: Term paper (5000 words) 60% grade which includes 50% for final essay and 10% for paper proposal/outline (due by midterm) 10%, in class closed book essay 25%, participation/attendance 15%.