LAW5414 - Public international law - 2019

Topics addressed include:

• theories, history, politics and practice of public international law;
• the sources of public international law;
• the relationship between international and national law;
• the role of the different subjects of public international law;
• the system of Statehood and territorial sovereignty;
• jurisdiction, privileges and immunity in public international law;
• the responsibility of States for internationally wrongful acts;
• the use of force by States and self-defence;
• international dispute resolution and the pacific settlement of disputes;
• key areas of the practice of public international law, and
• some of the challenges and future developments in public international law.

On completion of this unit students will be able to:

• Apply knowledge and understanding of recent developments in relation to public international law with creativity and initiative to new situations in professional practice and/or for further learning;
• Investigate, analyse and synthesise complex information, problems, concepts and theories in relation to public international law;
• Conduct research in public international law based on knowledge of appropriate research principles and methods; and
• Use cognitive, technical and creative skills to generate and evaluate at an abstract level complex ideas and concepts relevant to issues in public international law.

One research assignment (3,750 words): 50%

One take-home examination (3,750 words): 50%

Students enrolled in this unit will be provided with 24 contact hours of seminars per semester whether intensive, semi-intensive, or semester-long offering. Students will be expected to do reading set for class, and to undertake additional research and reading applicable to a 6 credit point unit.

Human rights law

International and comparative law