Legal Studies 353 - Law and Colonial Legacies

This course examines the relationship between law and colonialism both in historical and contemporary perspectives. First, we will learn about how law has been used to justify and facilitate the projects of colonialism, imperialism, and empire. Second, we will look at examples from around the world to understand how law operated in colonial settings as a tool of domination, especially as colonizers often imposed their system of laws on peoples with pre-existing legal traditions. Finally, we will explore the legacies of colonialism in contemporary law, discussing the concept of neo-colonialism. Since this is such a massive topic that spans centuries and reaches all corners of the globe, students will have an opportunity to closely examine a case study of interest to them via an independent research project.

Open to Legal Studies majors only. LEGAL 101