Public International Law
Etablissement : ESPOL European School of Political and Social Sciences
Langue : Anglais
Formation(s) dans laquelle/lesquelles le cours apparait :
Période : S5
The course aims to provide students with a basic understanding of the logics and main principles of public international law. International law, as its name indicates, is the law that applies in the relations between (inter-) States (-‘nation’). It is therefore not a branch of domestic law – like commercial, constitutional or yet family law – and, indeed, differs from it in many ways. Its main characteristic probably lies in the fact that the international legal order lacks a single central authority capable of ensuring universal respect for rules. It operates in a horizontal rather than vertical fashion. As a result, not only are States the main subjects of international law, but also its main guardians. This seemingly paradoxical situation is the source of most of the particularities that surround the making, the practice as well as the logics of international law. The course will seek to familiarize students with these particularities and with the content of the most important rules of international law. The purpose is to make sure that they acquire the necessary (legal) tools to critically assess and analyse how the international (legal) system works.
Session 1
· Course introduction
· Welcome quiz
· What is international law?
Part 1. International law in a changing world
Session 2
· Is international law really “law”?
· Is international law really “international”?
Part 2. The sources of international law
Session 3
· Why do the sources of international law matter?
· Traditional and contemporary sources of international law
Part 3. The subjects of international law
Session 4
· States
· The Right of all peoples to self-determination
· Individuals
· International organizations
Part 4. International law and the use of force by states
Session 5
· From the “just war” to the United Nations
· Interventions
· Terrorism and international law
· Cyber warfare
Part 5. International law and protection
Session 6
· Development and scope of protection of international humanitarian law
· The nature and development of international human rights law
Part 6. International law and responsibility
Session 7
· State responsibility
· The treatment of aliens
· The protection of foreign property and investments
Session 8
· Individual criminal responsibility
· International criminal courts and tribunals
Conclusion
Session 9
· Conclusion of the course
· Exam tips
