MODULE SPECIFICATION

Code: UPSNQL-15-3 Title: Governing Bodies, Trafficking & Markets Version: 1

Level: 3 UWE credit rating: 15 ECTS credit rating: 7.5

Module type: Standard

Owning Faculty: SSH Field: Sociology & Criminology

Faculty Committee approval: QSC Date: 06/5/2009

Approved for Delivery by: ( indicate name of affiliated institution if module will only be delivered by them)

Valid from: September 2009 Discontinued from:

Contributes towards: Awards up to BA/BSc

Pre-requisites: None

Co-requisites: None

Entry requirements: If the module is offered as CPD or stand alone, indicate the entry requirements

Excluded combinations: None

Learning outcomes:

On completion of the module students are expected to demonstrate:

    1. In-depth critical understanding of the legal, ethical and social issues relating to property in the body; (Components A and B)

    2. Ability to synthesise concepts of the body to citizenship and nationhood. (Component A)

    3. Ability to describe and critically analyse how capitalist systems and values shape both legal and illegal markets for bodies and body parts (Components A and B)

    4. An ability to critically reflect on how social inequalities and bodily differences influence exchanges in organs and body parts (Component B)

    5. Ability to critically evaluate how national and international regulation and governance arrangements tackle illegal trafficking in bodies and body parts. (Component A).

    6. Identification of contemporary examples of policies and regulation in Britain and Europe which aim to prevent trafficking or misuse of human body parts. (Component A).

Syllabus outline:

The syllabus will include a range of topics including:

    • Property in the Body

    • Patents

    • Capitalist markets

    • Tissue economies

    • Trading body parts

    • Concepts of the body

    • Gendering the bioeconomy

    • Reproductive tissues and the ova trade

    • Social inequalities and organ theft

    • False promises for clinical therapies

    • Science and regulatory policy

    • Nationhood

    • Citizenship

    • The regulatory state

    • Regulation and international borders

Teaching and learning methods:

This module will be delivered through weekly hour long lectures and weekly seminars designed to discuss and debate these issues in greater depth.

Reading Strategy:

The key readings for each seminar will be provided in either the form of a reading pack, a web-link to a relevant resource from the module's website on UWE Blackboard, or a chapter in a book that is recommended for purchase. In order to facilitate further reading and research, the handbook will contain details of books, journals and websites relevant to the topics covered by this course.

Indicative Reading List:

Andrews, L. and Nelkin, D. (2001) Body Bazaar: The Market for Human Tissue in The Biotechnology Age, New York: Crown Publishers

Cheney, A. (2006) Body Brokers: Inside America’s Underground Trade in Human Remains, New York: Broadway Books

Cooper, M. (2008) Life as surplus - Biotechnology & Capitalism in the Neoliberal Era. University of Washington.

Dickenson, D. (2007) Property in the Body: Feminist Perspectives, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press

Franklin, S. & Lock, M. (2003) (Eds) Remaking Life and Death, Towards an anthropology of the Biosciences. James Currey Press.

Kent, J. (2008) The fetal tissue economy: From the abortion clinic to the stem cell laboratory Social Science & Medicine, 67 (11) pp. 1747-1756

Nahman, M. (2008) Nodes of Desire: Romanian Egg Sellers, 'Dignity', and Feminist Alliances in Transnational Ova Exchanges' European Journal of Women's Studies, 15 (2) pp. 65-82.

Rose, N. (2007) The Politics of Life Itself, Biomedicine, Power and Subjectivity in the Twenty-first Century, Princetown University Press.

Sharp, L. (2007) Bodies, Commodities and Biotechnologies, Columbia University Press.

Waldby, C. & Mitchell, R. (2006) Tissue Economies, Duke University Press

Assessment

Weighting between components A and B A: 50% B: 50%

First Assessment Opportunity

Component A

Description of each element Element weighting

Seen Exam (2hr) 50%

Component B

Description of each element Element weighting

Book Review 2500 words 50%

Second Assessment Opportunity: attendance at taught classes is not required

Component A

Description of each element Element weighting

Seen Exam (2hr) 50%

Component B

Description of each element Element weighting

Book review 2500 words 50%

Specification confirmed by………….. ………………….Date…………………........

(Associate Dean/Programme Director)

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