Counterterrorism and Human Rights (LW525)

The human rights dimension of global counter-terrorism efforts entails the use of case law, legislation, international law, and national policy directives as implemented through often difficult operational decisions. This course offers a comparative analysis of the national approaches of, inter alia, the European Union, United States, Israel, and other states particularly as they interface with the efforts of international organizations. The human rights dimension of terrorism is both controversial and complex. This course will analyze the development and implementation of international norms by emphasizing the interrelationship between the theoretical foundations of international law and the pragmatic necessity for protecting the citizens of the world from random violence that undermines their core human rights.  Effective counterterrorism requires a synergy between fundamental norms of international law and the fabric of domestic law and society.  This multidisciplinary course focuses on the interlocking axes of legal norms as they relate to accompanying political and operational imperatives.  Students will be exposed to case law from a number of jurisdictions occasionally reaching contradictory results. This short course will also entail extended use of scenario-driven exercises focused on treatment issues, trans-national transfer, and case studies of terrorist trials.

Format: The module will be taught over four seminars.

Semester: 2

ECTS: 5

Lecturer: Brian Farrell

Counter Terrorism and Human Rights LW525 2019-2020