KRIM4950 - Torture, Terror and Rights
Course content
Starting with philosophical reflections on the nature of torture, the course takes you through ethical, historical, legal, and cultural aspects of torture, with a special focus on torture as an ingredient in “the war against terror”
Learning outcome
At the end of the course, you will be familiar with the most central questions and positions in contemporary debates about torture: (1) what is torture and can it ever be morally justified? (2) can we learn anything about torture from the history of the social sciences, criminal justice and warfare? (3) is there any plausible legal distinction to be made between torture and so-called “enhanced interrogation techniques” in the “lawfare” against terror? (4) how should torture properly be situated in a wider social and cultural context?
Admission
Id does not exist in shared textThe course is part of the programmes Kriminologi (master - to år) and Rettssosiologi (master - to år).
Students with admission to other master programmes at UiO and exchange students may also register for this course.
The examination in this course is not available for external candidates. Only students admitted to the course may sit for the examination.
Prerequisites
Formal prerequisite knowledge
Id does not exist in shared textRecommended previous knowledge
Bachelor degree.
Overlapping courses
10 credits overlap with KRIM2950 - Torture, Terror and Rights.Teaching
Lectures
Access to teaching
A student who has completed compulsory instruction and coursework and has had these approved, is not entitled to repeat that instruction and coursework. A student who has been admitted to a course, but who has not completed compulsory instruction and coursework or had these approved, is entitled to repeat that instruction and coursework, depending on available capacity.
Examination
Students are graded on the basis of a 7-day take-home exam.
Size: Maximum 4000 words (roughly 10 pages). Front page, contents page (optional) and bibliography are not included. If footnotes are used in the text (at the bottom of each page), they are included in the 4000 word limit.
The essays shall be handed in at the Information Centre at the Faculty of law in Domus Academica, Karl Johansgate 47 Bring two copies of your essay, remember to also bring your student card or some other kind of ID. The paper shall also be submitted in Fronter
Any exam at the University of Oslo may be checked for both correct word count and incidents of cheating. The text recognition software Ephorus will be used to find cases of plagiarism.
Examination support material
No examination support material is allowed.
Language of examination
Id does not exist in shared textEnglish
Grading scale
Grades are awarded on a scale from A to F, where A is the best grade and F is a fail. Read more about the grading system.
Explanations and appeals
You may request an explanation of your grades, and you may also appeal against your grades or make a complaint about formal examination errors. Read more about explanations and appeals.
Resit an examination
You can usually resit an exam, but the conditions depend on whether you had a valid reason for absence from the regular exam. Read more about resitting an exam.
Withdrawal from an examination
A student may sit this exam up to 3 times. If a student wishes to withdraw from the exam, s/he must do so in StudentWeb at least two weeks prior to the first day of the exam. Failure to do so will be counted as one of the three opportunities to sit the exam.
Special examination arrangements
If you have a disability or a health problem that entails significant inconvenience in an examination situation, you may be considered for special examination arrangements. Mothers who are breastfeeding may apply for extra time to complete the exam.