International Law

Course description
This course provides an overview of the rules that States use to organize their relationships with each other, with intergovernmental organizations, and with people. We will study particular subject matter areas of international law, such as the sources of international law, the law of treaties, the law of the use of force, human rights and international trade. These subjects matter areas are linked to fundamental concepts of international law and/or are of particular interest for students of international relations and political science.

Justification
The course aims to provide students with elements that will enable them to analyse the historical, economic and social processes that have led to the creation of the series of obligations, agreements, treaties and institutions that make up what we now refer to as international law. The goals are to help international relations students shape views within international relations, to have an understanding of the operation of international organizations and to understand how the evolution of international law directly impacted and influenced the transformation of the international community. Therefore, the course will seek to carry out a historical and political analysis of the current international order. This way, students will have the necessary knowledge to make a diagnosis of the current situation of law, politics and international relations, and will be in a position to analyse the prospects and directions it may take in the future.
 

Expected skills to develop
Basic institutional skill: Critical thinking

 

Aims of the course
The course has three main objectives: first, to expose students to a theoretical framework about the fundamental principles of public international law and the structures of the international legal system. Second, for students to apply the learned theoretical framework and develop analytical thinking by engaging in discussions on current issues in international law. Finally, for students to acquire basic skills in researching and presenting the results of their research in international law.
 

Course content
Unit 1: History, principles and definition of international law

· Historical and philosophical foundations of international law

· Relationship between international law and international relations

· Principles of international law

· Definition of international law

· Branches of international law

· Relationship between international law and domestic law

Unit 2: Sources of international law

· Treaties

· Custom

· Ius cogens and erga omnes obligations

· Unilateral acts of States

Unit 3: Subjects of international law – States

· Characteristics of the State

· Acquisition of territory

· The recognition and succession of States and governments

· Problem of secession in international law and international relations

· Self-determination

· State responsibility

· Principle of non-intervention

Unit 4: Subjects of international law – International organizations

· Overview of international organizations

· International personality

Unit 5: Atypical subjects of international law – Individuals

· Individuals as objects of international law

· Individuals as subjects of international law

· Overview of international human rights law and international criminal law

Unit 6: The use of force in international law

· Self-defense (individual and collective)

· Coercive action authorized by the UN Security Council

· Humanitarian intervention / responsibility to protect

Unit 7: Peaceful settlement of disputes

· Means of peaceful settlement of disputes

· The ICJ

Unit 8: The law of the sea

· The various maritime zones in international law

Unit 9: International Trade Law

· The rationale behind trade treaties

· Types of trade treaties

· WTO

Evaluation

Exam type	Form or manner in which to evaluate students’ skills	Exam time	Weight of the exam
Mid-term exam	Case analysis (oral or written)	M 6th	25%
Mid-term exam	Case analysis (oral or written)	M 10th	25%
Quizzes	Short quizzes at the beginning of the class	F	20%
Final exam	Multiple choice questions	F 17th	30%