Professor Roda Mushkat is my professor for International Humanitarian & Armed Conflict Law. The class is one of, if not my favorite class here at HNC and it really is in no small part due to Professor Mushkat’s teaching. The class is taught in English, moves at a reasonable pace, has clear instruction and always has one or two examples of how the regulations/laws are applicable in the real world. To give readers and anyone interested a better understanding of the class and HNC Academics, I decided to sit down and ask professor Mushkat some questions.
Q&A with
Professor Roda Mushkat
Please tell me a
little about your background, individual research, and how you came to HNC?
I was born in Israel, obtained my first law degree [LL.B]
there, continued my studies at a more advanced level (encompassing a
Postgraduate Certificate in International Law, LL.M & Doctor of Laws) in
various parts of the world, practiced family law briefly, and have subsequently
taught international law and related subjects for over three decades in Hong Kong,
the UK, and, as of 2011, at HNC, Nanjing/China. I have also served as a
visiting professor at a number of leading law schools in Canada and the US. My
longest association, extending over 26 years, including as the Head of the Law
Department, has been with the University of Hong Kong where I continue to serve
as a visiting and honorary professor. My
academic research has been in the areas of public international law, law &
international relations, international environmental law, international humanitarian
law, international refugee law, constitutional law, comparative law, law &
society, and law & economics. I have published a large number of books,
book chapters and journal articles in these fields.
What classes do you
teach?
Legal
Foundations of International Relations
International
Humanitarian Law/Law of Armed Conflict
International
Environmental Law & Policy
International
Dispute Resolution
How long have you
been teaching at HNC?
This is my fifth year.
Can you describe the
pedagogical techniques used at HNC?
I can only speak for myself. I place a heavy emphasis on a
systematic approach to law, with a strong theoretical and methodological
orientation, coupled with careful reliance on primary and secondary sources, as
well as an interdisciplinary focus, incorporating elements of social science
and philosophy.
What, in your
opinion, is the biggest benefit to studying at HNC?
Bicultural, bilingual, and multidisciplinary setting,
infused with a sense of community; a well-organized small institution not
suffering from diseconomies of scale (“small is beautiful” phenomenon).
What, in your
opinion, is the biggest benefit to studying in Nanjing?
An exposure to Chinese culture and politico-economic
realities in a city that is maintaining its Chinese characteristics and
modernizing at a moderate rather than fast pace; a convenient location in
central China.
What,
in your opinion, do students often struggle with at HNC? Does it differ for
International and Chinese students?
Sense of distance from home and isolation; the struggle of becoming accustomed to using Chinese or English language at the graduate level; challenges of transition
from undergraduate to graduate level; challenges of transition from Chinese to
American/Western modes of learning and vice versa. The adaptation and coping mechanisms may
assume different forms on the Chinese and international sides, but the
underlying issues are similar.
Have you kept in
touch with previous students (Western and Chinese)? Where do most of them go
(industry, govt., continued study) after HNC?
Yes, selectively; my students tend to pursue careers in law
or related fields; ERE is a new area of opportunity.
Do you have any
recommendations for incoming students to prepare for HNC?
To be open-minded, to be positive, and to work hard and
productively, without overlooking one’s personal development.
Is there
anything else you would like to add?
The HNC is a unique institution capable of playing a highly beneficial
role in the expansion of students’ intellectual, cultural, and personal
horizons; every effort should be made to take full advantage of the
opportunities it provides.
Many thanks to professor Mushkat for taking the time to answer my questions. Look for my upcoming post on an interview I had with one of the Chinese faculty members.
Written by Andrew Retallick, HNC Certificate/SAIS MA Student