Curriculum Guide · Courses

Professor Douglas Rutzen

J.D. Seminar 068 (cross-listed) | 1 credit hours

From the streets of Cairo, to the shantytowns of South Africa, to the Occupy protests in our own backyard, people have come together to promote democracy, economic development, and human rights. This seven-week seminar examines the international and comparative law of "civil society," drawing on examples from Europe, Asia, Africa, Latin America, the Middle East, and the United States. To illuminate themes and provide first-hand perspectives, previous classes have spoken (in-person or via Skype) with a former FBI agent who went undercover to infiltrate terrorist organizations, a human rights professor in Iran, and the UN Special Rapporteur on the freedoms of assembly and association. Students will study best - and worst - practices for the regulation of civil society around the world. Internships are available for interested students at the International Center for Not-for-Profit Law (www.icnl.org). Students in previous classes have contributed to a report endorsed by the Dalai Lama, Archbishop Tutu, and Vaclav Havel; helped advance a UN resolution on the freedoms of association and assembly; and helped establish global norms on Internet freedom.

Space is limited. Attendance at all class sessions is required, and all enrolled and waitlisted students must attend the first class. In the Fall 2013 semester, class sessions will be held on the following seven Wednesdays: 9/4, 9/18, 10/2, 10/16, 10/30, 11/13, and 11/20.