LO1) Demonstrate a clear understanding of the nature and practice of Asian and African legal systems LO2) Demonstrate a clear understanding of the relationship between different sources of law and state law LO3) Understand and appreciate the different sources of legal authority LO4) Use relevant documents and information on international systems, regional and national LO5) Synthesis and critical evaluation of law and in particular national law LO6) Independent behaviour Legal research on different legal systems and their relationship to each other LO7) Transmission of complex ideas and concepts in written and oral form. “The legal systems of Asia and Africa were a pivotal moment in my law studies, allowing us to apply our legal studies outside the English legal system and explore critical legal theory. The critical attitude of the SOAS course meant that students felt at the forefront of legal thought. “The module distinguishes and analyses legal systems with reference to the political regimes in which they exist and in whose constitution they can play a role. Instrumental legal applications and the role of lawyers in authoritarian and other legal systems are examined and analysed using case studies from selected countries in the SOAS mandate region. Finally, States` efforts to (re)build fragile legal systems after phases of conflict and repression and to establish the rule of law are analysed on the basis of selected Asian and African case studies. The role of international law and its interaction with these national and regional efforts will also be examined. This module builds on Legal Systems in Asia and Africa I, which introduces students to the study of traditional and modern legal systems of Asian and African countries. The key concepts and theories of this dynamic module are regularly illustrated with country-specific case studies. Our goal is to make the most of the regional research expertise of our colleagues in the Faculty of Law, Gender and Media by regularly inviting them to propose LSAA case studies. This ensures that the case studies are regularly edited and updated and allows us to examine some of the current legal issues in the SOAS mandate region.

This module introduces students to the study of traditional and modern legal systems of Asian and African countries. The course begins with an introduction to students` ways of thinking about “law” and “legal systems.” It also offers an analysis of the impact of Empire and colonialism (particularly European/British) on the legal systems of Asia and Africa. At Term 1, the module identifies different legal families on a historical basis and examines key concepts in legal anthropology and sociology of law, such as legal pluralism, law transplants, and the place of common law in the modern world. In clause 2, legal systems are distinguished and analysed on the basis of the political regimes in which they exist and in whose constitution they may play a role. Instrumental legal applications and the role of lawyers in authoritarian and other legal systems are examined and analysed using case studies from selected countries in the SOAS mandate region. Finally, States` efforts to (re)build fragile legal systems after phases of conflict and repression and to establish the rule of law are analysed on the basis of selected Asian and African case studies. The role of international law and its interaction with these national and regional efforts will also be examined. This dynamic module aims to make the most of the regional research expertise of our colleagues at the Faculty of Law, and the case studies are regularly modified and updated to reflect this expertise and explore some of the current legal issues in the SOAS mandate region. We begin by examining different ways of thinking about “law” and “legal systems” before moving on to key concepts in legal anthropology and sociology of law, such as legal pluralism, legal transplants, and the place of customary and religious law in the modern world. Throughout the module, we provide an analysis of the impact of Empire and colonialism (especially European/British) on the legal systems of Asia and Africa. We also pay particular attention to gender equality concerns in the multicultural societies of these regions. Course: 30% (3000 words) Invisible written exam: 70%.

Important note about changes to programs and modules. Stephen Chan, SOAS, University of London; Afif Pasuni, University of Warwick; Andrew Fagan, University of Essex; Bahar Baser, Coventry University; Catherine Gegout, University of Nottingham; Fernando Casal Bértoa, University of Nottingham; Juan Pablo Ferrero, University of Bath; Louise Thompson, University of Surrey; Marco Aponte-Moreno, UCL; Martin Vinæs Larsen, University of Copenhagen; Neil Pyper, Coventry University; Oliver Walton, University of Bath; Paul Kennedy, University of Bath; Simona Guerra, University of Leicester; Sotirios Zartaloudis, University of Birmingham; Steve Hewitt, University of Birmingham, and Yoav Galai, University of St. Andrews.