Law, Society, and Politics: Contemporary Challenges

By attending this course, students will develop a comprehensive and critical framework to understand and analyze the contemporary challenges faced by societies around the globe, especially Latin American societies. The course will focus on the intersection between the law, society, and politics. The first section of the course will explore the origins, purpose, and main features of democracies. Students will understand how political power is created, limited, and sustained over time in democracies. The second section of the course will inquire into specific legal and political aspects of democratic societies. Students will engage with topics, such as the legitimacy of political authorities, the role of the justice system, and the content and relevance of human rights. Classes will include a theoretical, empirical, and practical approach. The course will be interactive and consist of brief expositions by the lecturer, followed by group discussions, debates, projects, and presentations, among others. By the end of the course, students will be familiar with a set of fundamental legal and political topics and¾most importantly¾will be able to apply this new knowledge to understand problems in their own country and region. The course will help students develop critical thinking, leadership, and teamwork skills as well as social and political awareness. Students will learn to analyze and articulate social issues to debate on important and relevant topics. This course is designed for students interested in pursuing a career in the law, politics, and social sciences.

This is a special opportunity for middle and high school students to learn from a law expert who was trained at one of the world's top law schools, awarded by the United States to study at Yale, and works in one of the most important courts in Latin America.