GI7012 - International Law and International Order (2023/24)
| Module specification | Module approved to run in 2023/24 | ||||||||||||
| Module title | International Law and International Order | ||||||||||||
| Module level | Masters (07) | ||||||||||||
| Credit rating for module | 20 | ||||||||||||
| School | School of Social Sciences and Professions | ||||||||||||
| Total study hours | 200 | ||||||||||||
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| Assessment components |
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| Running in 2023/24(Please note that module timeslots are subject to change) |
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Module summary
In this module you will learn (a) what international law is, how it is implemented and the kind of international order it sustains and (b) how the principles of international law apply to a selection of high-profile real-world conflicts.
Prior learning requirements
None; Not available to Study Abroad students
Syllabus
The syllabus will consist of two main sections.
1. In the first section, you will be introduced to the essential principles of international law and international dispute settlement (weeks 1-4). In week 5, you will be asked to complete a Q & A test (formative assessment) to ensure that you have fully grasped these essentials before proceeding to the second section. (LO 1-4)
2. The second section will begin with a class devoted to an introduction to and discussion of the notion of natural law (week 6). In the remaining classes (weeks 7-12), the lecturer will introduce international legal rules applicable to a series of problem areas (e.g. territorial disputes, sea-delimitation claims, laws of war, international criminal law, etc). These introductory lectures will be followed by student-led discussions of the legal dimension of major international controversies (e.g. Ukraine/Russia/Crimea; South China Sea claims; Israeli West Bank settlements; Myanmar/Rohingya; Northern Ireland Protocol/Brexit etc.) in which the principles outlined in the lectures will be applied. (LO 1-4)
Balance of independent study and scheduled teaching activity
Teaching consists of a weekly two-hour lecture period followed by a one-hour tutorial/seminar. Lectures will be supported by substantial PowerPoint notes that contain relevant web links and are made available to students in a timely manner on Weblearn. Lectures will be recorded and the recordings made available to students on Weblearn.
A weekly programme of students’ tutorial tasks will be prepared before the start of the semester and published on Weblearn, along with relevant reading, accessible online, thus enabling all students to participate in every tutorial/seminar session.
The Weblearn site will also offer a selection of links to relevant databases, institutions, think-tanks and online publications.
Learning outcomes
Upon completion of this module you will:
1. Understand what international law is and the ways in which it resembles and differs from national law;
2. Understand the function and operation of the “imposing edifice” of international legal rules and institutions identified by Henry Morgenthau in Power Among Nations;
3. Understand how to apply the principles of international law to global and international crises and issues;
4. Gain critical insight into the philosophical assumptions underpinning international law.
Assessment strategy
Analysis of an international legal case (chosen from a list prepared by the module leader) (1,500-2,000 words). This will test your grasp of the basic principles introduced in the first section of the module and so relates to learning outcomes 1 and 2. It is responsible for 40% of the total mark for this module.
Essay on a topic chosen from a list prepared by the module leader (3,000-3,500 words). The topics will be closely related to the weekly lectures and discussions conducted in Section Two of the module and will include options to write a detailed analysis of one of the specific situations referred to in the indicative syllabus. This task relates to learning outcomes 2, 3 and 4 and is responsible for 60% of the total mark for this module.