Research Seminar Programme 2012-13
The Department holds regular Research Seminars in which both staff and postgraduate students participate. These take place during term-time on Wednesdays from 1.10pm to 2.00pm in the Law Conference room.
Wednesday 28 November 2012
Speaker: Dr Glenys Williams
Title: Emotion in an Excusatory Necessity Defence
Wednesday 31 October 2012
Speaker: Professor Ryszard Piotrowicz
Title: When should the law excuse criminal acts: the non-punishment/non-penalisation of victims of trafficking
Synopsis: The talk will consider the obligation of States not to punish or penalise trafficked persons who have committed offences in the course of, or as a consequence of, being trafficked. This is not a novel notion: criminal law recognises several cases in which the person who commits an offence may be exonerated. The principle will be explained in the context of trafficking of human beings and certain practical problems in its application will be discussed.
Wednesday 24 October 2012
Speaker: Dr Anel Boshoff
Title: Women and War - has anything changed?
Wednesday 10 October 2012
Speaker: Ms Nkiruka Ahiauzu
Title: An African Paradigm for Political Obligation
Synopsis: The problem for political obligation has attracted various attempts to justify it, aspects of which an African paradigm provides useful insights not only about the nature of obligation but about the nature of the person and her relationship with others. The paper explores these insights and lays possible foundations for legal normativity from an African perspective.
Wednesday 3 October 2012
Speaker: Dr David Poyton
Title: Looking forward - getting back on the horse
Synopsis: A discussion of proposed future research activity
Wednesday 19 September 2012
Speaker: Professor Noel Cox
Title: The gradual curtailment of the royal prerogative
Synopsis: Recently there have been some attempts to codify, abolish or otherwise curtail the scope and role of the royal prerogative. Apart from the role of the courts in enlarging the scope for the judicial review of the prerogative, there have been moves to reduce the prerogative from its current narrow range of powers, privileges and immunities, even further. However, some of these proposals have been based on philosophical or legal suppositions that cannot be supported. One argument, by Harris, maintains that the royal prerogative doesn't meet the standard of an ideal model (which he proposes), and therefore should be replaced. This argument, however, involves a paradox; the royal prerogative 'as currently perceived' falls short of the ideal model; but the model itself is a conceptual construct which itself can be subject to criticism. For instance, the value of the royal prerogative is that it can be exercised free of parliamentary control; conversely this is what Harris sees as a weakness and would bring to an end.
Wednesday 12 September 2012
Speaker: Ms Jennifer Phipps
Title: Women at War: The Challenges of Combat Exclusion
Synopsis: Only 70% of occupational roles are available to women in the British Armed Forces with women still excluded from positions involving close combat (Army 2010). Female exclusion from combat roles has been justified on the basis that gender integration would undermine operational effectiveness but many people seek to gain full equality and equal respect for women soldiers. Modelled as a bastion of masculine culture and aggressiveness, where violence and dominance is promoted, the military culture has traditionally rejected any notions of femininity, sensitivity or caring (Titunik, 2008). Centred upon group cohesion and solidarity, a direct correlation between the occupational culture of the military and its effectiveness has been found (Zeigler & Gunderson, 2005). This research intends to review the effect that female integration of military roles will have on the armed forces. It will examine the fairness of combat exclusion for women as a justification for maintaining operational effectiveness.
Research Seminar Programme 2011-12