Integrative Seminar on International Law

The seminar is divided into four basic parts.

It starts by revising the two main competing theories regarding the nature of international relations and the possibilities of cooperation and institutions in the international scene. Consequently this first part studies both Political Realism and Liberal Institutionalism and the tension between them as opposing theories of international relations.

The second part of the course proceeds to analyze the institutional and functional aspects of the multilateral trade regime, as embodied in the GATT and WTO agreements, including a basic introduction to the system’s essential underpinning in economic theory: the theory of comparative advantage.

The third component of the course is devoted to some basic aspects of the international monetary regime and the basic rules governing the International Monetary Fund in its two basic functions: the provision of international liquidity and stability of exchange rates.

The fourth and final big component of the course consists of International Investment Law and Arbitration. The main objects of study in this section are the difference between diplomatic protection as the old regime of international investment protection and the modern layout embodied in international investment agreements, the substantive standards of protection of foreign investment and investors such as FET, non-discrimination (MFN and NT) the rules on compensation for expropriation, the features of indirect expropriation and the evaluation of international arbitration’s adequacy as the most important way of solving controversies between foreign investors and sovereign States.

In line with its seminar nature the course hinges around the case study method. Students will be required to read the assigned cases and materials prior to each class and be ready to actively engage in discussing them during each session together.