Study Abroad Course Offered for Summer 2013
Peace, Justice & Human Rights: The International Criminal Court and The Hague Tradition (PHL 397) 6 credits
To begin the process of applying to enroll in this class, click here.
The project of securing peace, justice and human rights through global justice mechanisms such as the International Criminal Court began well before the first and second World Wars. In 1899 in The Hague, the largest Dutch city on the North Sea, 26 different countries agreed to build an international institution to end war: The Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA). The ideal was not reached. But the Peace Palace, built by Andrew Carnegie to provide a symbolic home to the PCA, stands in The Hague today as a monument to the idealism which inspired its creation. Now home to both the PCA and the ‘World Court’ of the United Nations, the Peace Palace continues to inspire the international community to secure peace and global justice for all. The United Nations which was created “to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war”, is a clear legacy to the vision expressed in 1899. The legacy is simply stated but not easily realized: to realize peace through international law.
The International Criminal Court (ICC) is the international community’s most recent attempt to realize peace through law. By holding accountable the individuals responsible for the most heinous crimes – war crimes, genocide, and crimes against humanity – the ICC is premised on the belief that accountability is necessary to secure global peace and prosperity. But the court is young – having decided its first case in March 2012. Strikingly, although the United States has led many efforts in the project of global justice and human rights, it is not currently a member of the ICC.
This class focuses on the International Criminal Court (ICC). However, this class is not just for students interested courts and law. In fact, the primary objective of this six week, six credit course is to have the student understand the connection between the ICC and The Hague, and appreciate the diverse range of skill sets involved realizing peace through international law. The fact is, the ICC is not just a court of law, but is an innovative “global justice tool” which has a number of different "non-legal" departments such as outreach, public relations, and witness counseling. Further, the ICC is premised on a novel conception of criminal justice that involves the victims of atrocity crimes in profound ways. To appreciate the ICC's complex operation, students will not only attend trial proceedings at the ICC, but will also learn from lawyers, psychologists, journalists and other personnel from various divisions of the ICC.
In addition to understanding the inner-workings of the ICC, the student will also learn about the history and philosophy of “The Hague Tradition”. But this portion of the class will truly be once-in-a-lifetime. 2013 is an important moment: August 2013 marks the 100th anniversary of the Peace Palace (although the Permanent Court of Arbitration was created in 1899, the symbolic building – which is a monument to Peace – was not built until 1913). As part of learning about the connection between the ICC and The Hague Tradition, students in this class will be involved in organizing and executing events with international partners in The Hague aimed at educating the public about the historic moment.
The first two weeks of this course will be held on the Mt. Pleasant campus of CMU and will focus on philosophical theories that are pertinent to the ICC and The Hague tradition. The last 4 weeks will be spent in The Netherlands. Students will live in the dorms of Leiden University, The Netherlands' oldest and most prestigious university which was home to Rembrandt, Descartes, and Hugo Grotius. Leiden university is about a 12 minute train ride to The Hague, and about 30 minutes via train to Amsterdam.
The class blog, which contains multiple entries from the students who participated in the class in 2011 and 2012 can be accessed at: http://www.romestatute.com
The faculty leader of this course is Dr. Hope May. Dr. May is a Professor of Philosophy and the Director of the Center for Professional and Personal Ethics. She received her Ph.D. from Michigan State University in 2001. She earned her Juris Doctorate (law) degree in 2008, graduating magna cum laude from Michigan State University College of Law. She is also a member of the Michigan Bar. As a law student, Dr. May won awards for her work in Legal Interpretation, International Law & Weapons of Mass Destruction, First Amendment Law, and Law and Literature. She is the author of several books and articles including On Socrates (Wadsworth, 2000). Her most recent book is Aristotle’s Ethics: Moral Development and Human Nature (Continuum, 2010). Dr. May is the recipient of Central Michigan University’s Excellence in Teaching Award. As Director of the University's Center for Professional and Personal Ethics, she has envisioned and designed a number of student centered projects such as the CMU Redbook, CMU Vote, Ethics Talk: A weekly internet radio show that is archived on ITUNES and aired on Modern Rock 91.5. Hope has also envisioned and created Inspire Michigan! an ideas competition for visionary students that helps them to develop and grow their social entrepreneurial ideas for Michigan. Dr. May worked at the International Criminal Court in the office of the Prosecutor as a visiting professional, is on the Board of Directors for the International Criminal Court Student Network, and has been an NGO delegate to the Assembly of States Parties to the Rome Statute in 2011 and 2012. She has organized events and student conference in The Hague connected with the history of international criminal law. Her background in both philosophy and law, and her commitment to her students and to excellence in teaching will provide an enriching educational experience for students who enroll in PHL 397.
Course Credit
Participants will earn PHL 397 (6 credits) for successful completion of this program.
Dates
July 16-30 class held on CMU campus; August 1-23 in The Netherlands. Optional additional week in The Netherlands to attend the 100th anniversary celebration of the Peace Palace.
Eligibility Requirements
Peace, Justice & Human Rights: The International Criminal Court and The Hague Tradition (PHL 397) 6 credits
To begin the process of applying to enroll in this class, click here.
The project of securing peace, justice and human rights through global justice mechanisms such as the International Criminal Court began well before the first and second World Wars. In 1899 in The Hague, the largest Dutch city on the North Sea, 26 different countries agreed to build an international institution to end war: The Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA). The ideal was not reached. But the Peace Palace, built by Andrew Carnegie to provide a symbolic home to the PCA, stands in The Hague today as a monument to the idealism which inspired its creation. Now home to both the PCA and the ‘World Court’ of the United Nations, the Peace Palace continues to inspire the international community to secure peace and global justice for all. The United Nations which was created “to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war”, is a clear legacy to the vision expressed in 1899. The legacy is simply stated but not easily realized: to realize peace through international law.
The International Criminal Court (ICC) is the international community’s most recent attempt to realize peace through law. By holding accountable the individuals responsible for the most heinous crimes – war crimes, genocide, and crimes against humanity – the ICC is premised on the belief that accountability is necessary to secure global peace and prosperity. But the court is young – having decided its first case in March 2012. Strikingly, although the United States has led many efforts in the project of global justice and human rights, it is not currently a member of the ICC.
This class focuses on the International Criminal Court (ICC). However, this class is not just for students interested courts and law. In fact, the primary objective of this six week, six credit course is to have the student understand the connection between the ICC and The Hague, and appreciate the diverse range of skill sets involved realizing peace through international law. The fact is, the ICC is not just a court of law, but is an innovative “global justice tool” which has a number of different "non-legal" departments such as outreach, public relations, and witness counseling. Further, the ICC is premised on a novel conception of criminal justice that involves the victims of atrocity crimes in profound ways. To appreciate the ICC's complex operation, students will not only attend trial proceedings at the ICC, but will also learn from lawyers, psychologists, journalists and other personnel from various divisions of the ICC.
In addition to understanding the inner-workings of the ICC, the student will also learn about the history and philosophy of “The Hague Tradition”. But this portion of the class will truly be once-in-a-lifetime. 2013 is an important moment: August 2013 marks the 100th anniversary of the Peace Palace (although the Permanent Court of Arbitration was created in 1899, the symbolic building – which is a monument to Peace – was not built until 1913). As part of learning about the connection between the ICC and The Hague Tradition, students in this class will be involved in organizing and executing events with international partners in The Hague aimed at educating the public about the historic moment.
The first two weeks of this course will be held on the Mt. Pleasant campus of CMU and will focus on philosophical theories that are pertinent to the ICC and The Hague tradition. The last 4 weeks will be spent in The Netherlands. Students will live in the dorms of Leiden University, The Netherlands' oldest and most prestigious university which was home to Rembrandt, Descartes, and Hugo Grotius. Leiden university is about a 12 minute train ride to The Hague, and about 30 minutes via train to Amsterdam.
The class blog, which contains multiple entries from the students who participated in the class in 2011 and 2012 can be accessed at: http://www.romestatute.com
The faculty leader of this course is Dr. Hope May. Dr. May is a Professor of Philosophy and the Director of the Center for Professional and Personal Ethics. She received her Ph.D. from Michigan State University in 2001. She earned her Juris Doctorate (law) degree in 2008, graduating magna cum laude from Michigan State University College of Law. She is also a member of the Michigan Bar. As a law student, Dr. May won awards for her work in Legal Interpretation, International Law & Weapons of Mass Destruction, First Amendment Law, and Law and Literature. She is the author of several books and articles including On Socrates (Wadsworth, 2000). Her most recent book is Aristotle’s Ethics: Moral Development and Human Nature (Continuum, 2010). Dr. May is the recipient of Central Michigan University’s Excellence in Teaching Award. As Director of the University's Center for Professional and Personal Ethics, she has envisioned and designed a number of student centered projects such as the CMU Redbook, CMU Vote, Ethics Talk: A weekly internet radio show that is archived on ITUNES and aired on Modern Rock 91.5. Hope has also envisioned and created Inspire Michigan! an ideas competition for visionary students that helps them to develop and grow their social entrepreneurial ideas for Michigan. Dr. May worked at the International Criminal Court in the office of the Prosecutor as a visiting professional, is on the Board of Directors for the International Criminal Court Student Network, and has been an NGO delegate to the Assembly of States Parties to the Rome Statute in 2011 and 2012. She has organized events and student conference in The Hague connected with the history of international criminal law. Her background in both philosophy and law, and her commitment to her students and to excellence in teaching will provide an enriching educational experience for students who enroll in PHL 397.
Course Credit
Participants will earn PHL 397 (6 credits) for successful completion of this program.
Dates
July 16-30 class held on CMU campus; August 1-23 in The Netherlands. Optional additional week in The Netherlands to attend the 100th anniversary celebration of the Peace Palace.
Eligibility Requirements
- An intrinsic interest in human rights and tangible evidence of this interest.
- Interview with the faculty leader.
- Minimum 3.00 GPA.
The Prosecution Team at the International Criminal Court in The Hague, Netherlands.
Beautiful Leiden. Home of Leiden University, the oldest University in The Netherlands, where students of PHL 397 will live.
The Peace Palace, which houses the International Court of Justice and the Peace Palace Library. Students will be able to study in the beautiful library
