Last modified: 05 Oct 2023 08:46
The course aims to introduce legal, ethical, and social implications of international commercial relationships.
The course will cover the concept of global value chains and the drivers behind global value chains structures, such as globalization, development, and sustainable development.
It will then focus on the negative impacts that the production processes in global value chains have on individuals, communities, and the environment in, primarily, low-and middle-income countries. Examples include labour and working conditions, overexploitation of resources and pollution, project-related human rights impacts including forced labour and child labour.
Finally, the course will cover policy, regulatory, and litigation response to these challenges in their socio-economic, legal, and ethical contexts.
| Study Type | Undergraduate | Level | 4 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Session | First Sub Session | Credit Points | 30 credits (15 ECTS credits) |
| Campus | Aberdeen | Sustained Study | No |
| Co-ordinators |
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One or more of these courses have a limited number of places. Priority access will be given to students for whom this course is compulsory. Please refer to the Frequently Asked Questions for more details on this process.
Production networks account for around 80% of global trade. These networks – known as global value chains – encompass a range of actors in different locations and industries.
The technological development and political shifts of the last century allowed the global value chains to flourish. At the same time, the legal and socio-economic structures allow some actors in the global value chains to increase their profits and avoid accountability for the negative impacts of the production processes the individuals and communities of low- and middle-income countries. Examples include adverse social, human rights, and environmental impacts on, such as labour and working conditions, overexploitation of resources and pollution, project-related human rights impacts including forced labour and child labour.
Remedying power disbalances in global value chains is one of the most pressing challenges of modern times. Responses thus far include policy and regulatory measures on international, regional, and national levels, and a range of business and human rights litigation across jurisdictions. Still, question remains if such responses are effective in restoring the balance between various actors in global value chains, and in preventing, mitigating, and removing negative impacts of production processes.
Against this backdrop, the course will introduce the key concepts and drivers behind global value chains structures, critically analyse the policy and doctrinal responses, and evaluate their legal, ethical, and social implications. The course will cover indicative topics, some of which include:
Information on contact teaching time is available from the course guide.
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | 50 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | 19,20 | Feedback Weeks | 25 | |
| Feedback |
The feedback will be provided in written form and in accordance with the Common Grading Scale. The feedback will be provided within three weeks as of submission, in accordance with the School’s and University’s policies. |
Word Count | 3000 | |
| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Conceptual | Understand | To develop a critical understanding of the concept and drivers global value chains as modern production networks. |
| Factual | Remember | To develop a critical understanding of ethical, legal, and social implications of policy and doctrinal responses to tackle negative impacts of production processes in global value chains. |
| Procedural | Apply | To apply the knowledge and concepts acquired in specific case scenarios, such as contract design and management in global value chains |
| Reflection | Create | To communicate orally and in writing information, advice, and choices related to legal, socio-economic and ethical issues in global production networks effectively and persuasively. |
| Reflection | Evaluate | To evaluate the role of legislators, courts, and other stakeholders in tackling negative production impacts in global value chains |
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | 50 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | 13,14 | Feedback Weeks | 16,17 | |
| Feedback |
The feedback will be provided in written form and in accordance with the Common Grading Scale. The feedback will be provided within three weeks as of submission, in accordance with the School’s and University’s policies. |
Word Count | 3000 | |
| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Conceptual | Understand | To develop a critical understanding of the concept and drivers global value chains as modern production networks. |
| Factual | Remember | To develop a critical understanding of ethical, legal, and social implications of policy and doctrinal responses to tackle negative impacts of production processes in global value chains. |
| Reflection | Create | To communicate orally and in writing information, advice, and choices related to legal, socio-economic and ethical issues in global production networks effectively and persuasively. |
There are no assessments for this course.
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | Feedback Weeks | |||
| Feedback |
If failed one essay: Resit in the same format as the failed assessment (2,500-word essay) with passing grade carried forward. If failed both essays: 4,000-word essay (100%) The feedback will be provided in written form and in accordance with the Common Grading Scale. The feedback will be provided within three weeks as of submission, in accordance with the School’s and University’s policies. |
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| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
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| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Factual | Remember | To develop a critical understanding of ethical, legal, and social implications of policy and doctrinal responses to tackle negative impacts of production processes in global value chains. |
| Conceptual | Understand | To develop a critical understanding of the concept and drivers global value chains as modern production networks. |
| Reflection | Create | To communicate orally and in writing information, advice, and choices related to legal, socio-economic and ethical issues in global production networks effectively and persuasively. |
| Reflection | Evaluate | To evaluate the role of legislators, courts, and other stakeholders in tackling negative production impacts in global value chains |
| Procedural | Apply | To apply the knowledge and concepts acquired in specific case scenarios, such as contract design and management in global value chains |
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