International Law

Learning Outcomes

• Description
  The principles of the laws of nations in peace, war and neutrality, and selected issues.
  This course begins with an introduction to the nature and purpose of public international law and introduces candidates to its functions and to selected theories of international law.  International law governs the relations between entities in possession of international personality such as states and international organisations.  These actors along with other entities such as NGOs, multinational corporations and individuals will be examined as part of this course.  Candidates will then go on to consider the process by which international law is created – the so-called sources of international law – before exploring the modes of acquiring territory and examining the law of the sea.  Final topics covered by this course include jurisdiction, the relationship between national and international law, state responsibility and responses to breaches of international obligations.
  
  Learning Outcomes
  On completion of this course candidates should be able to:
  
•  Demonstrate a basic and systematic understanding of the elementary principles, processes and institutions of public international law;
  
•  Critically analyse and evaluate public international law within a social, political and theoretical context;
  
•  Demonstrate a conceptual understanding of the theory and practice of public international law through a critical evaluation of primary materials and relevant scholarship in the field;
  
•  Undertake research in the field of public international law.
  
  It should be noted that this course is designed to provide a foundation for further study in the field of public international law and to facilitate candidates seeking to undertake independent research in areas of public international law.

Prerequisites

For further information see Language, Social and Political Sciences .