Genocide and the Ocean: Conceptualising their Relationship

What is the relationship between genocide and the ocean? This question invites critical inquiry into what it is we talk about when we talk about ‘genocide.’ On one level, genocide is a narrow and technical issue of international law that imposes liability for violence undertaken with the ‘specific intent’ to destroy a racial, religious, or national group in whole or in part. On another level, genocide is broadly invoked in moral and political discourse as the supreme act of human evil. In other words, contrary to existing international legal doctrine, genocide occupies the popular imagination as a ‘crime of crimes’ placed at the very top of an asserted hierarchy of harm. Recognising this multi-faceted deployment as an embedded feature of genocide discourse, the aim of this workshop is to explore where exactly the ocean fits within this scheme, especially considering the myriad of ways in which the ocean and oceanic forces can end and/or degrade human life on a brutally massive scale.

From the seemingly ceaseless drowning of refugees to mass deprivation caused by naval blockades to the devastation of coastal areas through climate change and its contribution to patterns of forced migration, such questions of maritime morbidity are of the utmost concern to today’s international lawyers. Can the current legal definition of genocide be applied or extended to account for these instances of violence? Does the current discourse on genocide systematically marginalise these forms of harm? Are alternative concepts needed to understand the contribution of the ocean to mass human death? What are the fundamental presumptions that create difficulties when theorising the relationship between genocide and the ocean? Through this workshop, we shall explore these questions (and more) by focusing on the nexus between atrocity, international law, and ‘the maritime’ through a broad interdisciplinary lens. Towards this end, we encourage submissions by experts in anthropology, geography, history, philosophy, political science, sociology, and related fields, in addition to international law.

This workshop will take place on March 20th, 2024 at the University of Kent, Canterbury with keynote addresses by Prof Itamar Mann (Haifa) and Prof Surabhi Ranganathan (Cambridge). A limited number of travel bursaries will be available for PhD students and Early Career Researchers. Selected papers will be submitted for potential publication in a special issue of the Journal of Genocide Research to be guest edited by Dr Vicky Kapogianni and Dr Eric Loefflad. Those interested in participating should send an abstract of 750 words maximum and a bio of 200 words maximum to Dr Eric Loefflad at e.d.loefflad@kent.ac.uk, and should specify if they wish to be considered for a bursary, by December 15th, 2023. Applicants will be informed of the outcome by January 20th, 2024.

Potential Topics might include (but are no way limited to):

—Particular Vulnerability of Island and Coastal Peoples to Genocidal Violence

—Histories of the Maritime Dimensions of Slavery and Colonial Encounters

—Issues Relating to Refugees at Sea

—Addressing Violence at Sea through International Criminal Law

—Genocide and Naval Operations (Blockade/Bombardment/Sanction/Nuclear Weapons)

—Mass Deaths resulting from Destruction of Marine Environments and/or Climate Change

—How the Feature of the Ocean Shapes Forced Migration (and even Internal Displacement)

Internationalising the curriculum through an Environmental, Social, and Corporate Governance (ESG) Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) project

by Dr Wangwei Lin

This term, Reading Law School successfully ran its first COIL project with Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University (APU), Japan, and Coventry University on a student-led ESG COIL research project, based on its International Corporate Governance and the Law module.

The Internet serves as a crucial platform for Internationalisation at Home (Crowther et al, 2001; Leask, Beelen, and Kaunda 2013) through the establishment of virtual classrooms, accommodating participants from various countries. The concept of virtual mobility then quickly became recognised as a descriptor for cross-border educational exchanges that are realised through engagement in technology-enabled networks (Sweeney, 2014).

The virtual mobility projects, commonly known as Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL), facilitate online engagements between students in the UK and their counterparts at universities outside the UK. This allows them to collaborate on tasks or activities specific to their subject area while cultivating essential employment qualities such as digital skills and intercultural competence (Deardorff, 2006). Initiatives involving virtual mobility stand out as some of the most adaptable and inclusive strategies for offering opportunities for international experiences. Through the COIL programme, universities and broader educational entities can serve as vital contributors to enhancing students’ intercultural competence (Bergan, Restoueix, and Council of Europe, 2009; Higher Education Academy, 2014).

In this first COIL project of the University of Reading, the students of the three international institutions play a central role. The academic staff, including Dr Wangwei Lin of Reading Law School, Professor Rebecca Chunghee Kim of Ritsumeikan Asian Pacific University, and Dr Neshat Safari of Coventry Law School, contributed to the design and facilitation of the COIL project. Instructors from all collaborating universities shape the learning activities.

In the UK-Japan COIL project, the selection and application of technologies and other arrangements such as setting the right class time to accommodate time zone differences are fundamentally guided by pedagogical factors. Such choices consistently have to harmonise with the design of cooperative engagements, all of which are rooted in the anticipated learning outcomes students aim to achieve after participating in the International Corporate Governance and the Law module.

Reading LLM law students participating in digital discussions are facilitated by Zoom and Open Moodle with MBA students in APU in Japan. Students engage in in-depth discussion and collaborative tasks that result in the creation of analytical and critical ESG reports on major corporations in various industries in the West and East.

As the first COIL project in Reading Law School, the ESG COIL project International Corporate Governance and the Law module provides critical pedagogical feedback guiding in the direction of improvement. The primary driving forces for students to participate in the COIL project are the set learning objectives and the chance to engage with individuals from different countries. Yet, it’s crucial to note that in an environment where students juggle numerous responsibilities, the absence of formal recognition or credit can result in losing interest after the initial enthusiasm. It became evident that when COIL tasks were integrated into the module’s curriculum activities, students treated them as standard seminar or workshop assignments, ensuring sustained involvement. Conversely, when COIL tasks were not aligned with the subject matter and appeared to be mere add-ons, students saw them as unrelated to module evaluations. To improve the quality and frequency of participation, we will be seeking to align the activities with the module’s overall assessment where possible in the next COIL project.

The integration of COIL projects into the curriculum at Reading Law School demonstrates the transformative potential of virtual mobility at the University of Reading. By bridging geographical divides, COIL equips students with both academic insights and invaluable global competencies. The success of the inaugural COIL project, in collaboration with esteemed international institutions, is a testament to the commitment of Reading Law School to pioneering innovative pedagogical approaches. However, as with any new initiative, there are lessons to be learned. The feedback from this project demonstrates the importance of aligning COIL activities with core curricular objectives to ensure sustained student engagement. As we move forward, the emphasis will be on refining these virtual exchanges, ensuring they are not only academically rigorous but also align with the educational aspirations of law students. In an increasingly interconnected world, initiatives like COIL are becoming imperative. Reading Law School remains at the forefront of this educational evolution.

Bergan, S., J. P. Restoueix, and Council of Europe (2009) Intercultural dialogue on Campus. Strasbourg: Council of Europe Publishing.

Crowther, P., Joris, M., Otten, M., Nilsson, B., Teekens, H., & Wächter, B. (2001) Internationalisation at home: A position paper. Amsterdam: EAIE.

Deardorff, D. K. (2006) Identification and assessment of intercultural competence as a student outcome of internationalization. Journal of Studies in International Education, 10 (3): pp 241–266.

Leask, B., J. Beelen, and L. Kaunda. (2013) Internationalisation of the curriculum: international approaches and perspectives In: H. de Wit, F. Hunter, L. Johnson, and H.G. Van Liempd, eds. Possible Futures: The Next 25 Years of the Internationalisaton of Higher Education. Amsterdam: European Association for International Education.

Sweeney, S. (2014) Going Mobile: Internationalisation, Mobility and the European Higher Education Area. York: The Higher Education Academy.

Higher Education Academy (2014) Internationalising Higher Education Framework. Available at: https://www.heacademy.ac.uk/workstreams-research/themes/internationalisation/internationalisation-framework [Accessed 1 October 2023].

Global experts join the School of Law as Visiting Staff

In recent months, the School of Law has appointed several members of Visiting Staff to strengthen our research groupings, international outlook, and contribute to our student experience. One recent appointment includes Justice Andrew Phang SC, Senior Judge of the Supreme Court of Singapore.

Head of School, Professor James Devenney, commented “We are absolutely delighted to welcome Justice Andrew Phang, such a distinguished judge and academic, to the School as a Visiting Professor. This further strengthens our global faculty and research networks.”

Our new Visiting Staff will “provide invaluable expertise and networks to further enhance the School of Law’s international presence and capacity for generating world-leading research.”

You can read about our newest Visiting Staff below:

The Honourable Justice Andrew Phang SC joins us as Visiting Professor with undeniable strengths in contract law. Justice Phang has had a distinguished career as an academic and judge in Singapore culminating with his appointment as Senior Judge of the Supreme Court of Singapore from January 2023.

Professor Michael Addo has been appointed a Visiting Professor and will expand the international reach of Global Law at Reading (GLAR). He has held several leadership positions with the United Nations bringing outstanding experience in international law and human rights to the School.

Professor Paul Wragg is a leading expert on press regulation and free speech and joins us as a Visiting Professor.

Professor Allan Beever is an international authority on tort law and the theory of private law. As a Visiting Professor, Professor Beever will bring an excellent array of expertise to the School.

Professor Kenneth Christie has joined the School as a Visiting Professor and will also contribute to the activities of Global Law at Reading (GLAR). An experienced political scientist, Professor Christie is a recognised authority on human security, an area that overlaps with much of the research conducted in the School.

Professor Ademola Abass has been appointed Senior Visiting Research Fellow. With experience at the African Union, NATO, UNDP, and as a member of the Lagos State cabinet, Professor Abass brings both practical and academic knowledge of international law to the School.

Professor Tatjana Papić joins us as a Visiting Fellow. Professor Papić is Professor of Public International Law and International Human Rights Law at the Union University Belgrade bringing expertise on issues such as state responsibility and the European Court of Human Rights to Global Law at Reading (GLAR).

Dr Amy Maguire is a Visiting Research Fellow at the School. Dr Maguire is an expert on international human rights law and one of the co-founders of the University of Newcastle’s (Australia) Centre for Law and Social Justice.

Conor McEneaney joins us a Visiting Fellow. Mr McEneaney is a Legal Director in global law firm DLA Piper’s Dublin office. He has significant experience of advising clients on intellectual property and technology transfer which will greatly benefit our students and programmes.