Sociology and Criminology

Crimes against Humanity (Aut)

Module code: L5103A
Level 6
15 credits in autumn semester
Teaching method: Lecture, Seminar
Assessment modes: Essay

Why are human beings capable of extreme forms of cruelty and violence? This module engages with this question and we'll focus on the work of Sigmund Freud, Erich Fromm, Hannah Arendt, and Ernest Becker. 

You'll examine:

• the driving force of aggression, conflict and mass violence
• the psychological trauma experienced by victims
• the role of internal and external bystanders
• a range of psychoanalytical, psychological, sociological and criminological reflections on mass violence, psychological trauma and atrocity.

Module learning outcomes

• Understand the main fundamental insights produced by philosophy and social theory into the phenomena of crimes against humanity.
• Think theoretically and conceptually about crimes against humanity and reconciliation.
• Review and make independent judgements about the strengths and weaknesses of different perspectives.
• Assimilate and evaluate evidence from case studies of mass atrocity.