|
|
JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY
COURSE CODE: "PL/LAW 320-2"
COURSE NAME: "Public International Law"
SEMESTER & YEAR:
Spring 2022
|
SYLLABUS
INSTRUCTOR:
Silvia Scarpa
EMAIL: [email protected]
HOURS:
TTH 10:00 AM 11:15 AM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS:
45
CREDITS:
3
PREREQUISITES:
OFFICE HOURS:
by appointment
|
|
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course examines the basic concepts of public international law, to enable students to critically evaluate the interplay between legal claims and power relations. Starting with a theoretical overview of the character, development and sources of international law, the course examines such law-generating and law-implementing institutions as the United Nations, international arbitration and adjudication, international criminal tribunals, national systems and regional organizations. Such substantive areas as the law of war (the use of force and humanitarian law), international criminal law, human rights, and environmental law will be given special attention.
[Course cross-listed as of Fall 2019]
|
SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:
The course introduces students to public international law, discussing about the main challenges that this discipline faces today. It analyses the main subjects of international law – including, in particular States, Intergovernmental Organizations, individuals, and other entities. The sources of international law are examined and the hierarchy existing among them is discussed, focusing, in particular, on the specific role of peremptory norms of international law (jus cogens rules). The Course also analyses some relevant areas of public international law, including inter alia the use of force in the international legal order (ius ad bellum), the role of the United Nations and the collective security system, the law of the sea, the international protection of human rights, and international criminal law.
|
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
Upon completion of this course students are expected to be able to refer to the main subjects and sources of international law and to be familiar with States’ implementation of international standards and the consequences of the breaches of international obligations. Secondly, students will be able to critically analyse the main challenges existing in various branches of public international law, including inter alia, the law of the sea, international human rights law, and international criminal law.
|
TEXTBOOK:
Book Title | Author | Publisher | ISBN number | Library Call Number | Comments | Format | Local Bookstore | Online Purchase |
Cassese's International Law | P. Gaeta, J. Vinuales, and S. Zappalà | Oxford University Press | 9780199231287 | | | | | |
|
REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
|
GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
Assignment | Guidelines | Weight |
Mid-term exam | Essay questions | 30% |
Final exam | Essay questions | 30% |
Project | project assignment + oral presentation | 35% |
Class participation | Attendance is compulsory & students shall contribute to class discussions. | 5% |
-ASSESSMENT CRITERIA:
AWork of this quality directly addresses the question or problem raised and provides a coherent argument displaying an extensive knowledge of relevant information or content. This type of work demonstrates the ability to critically evaluate concepts and theory and has an element of novelty and originality. There is clear evidence of a significant amount of reading beyond that required for the course BThis is highly competent level of performance and directly addresses the question or problem raised.There is a demonstration of some ability to critically evaluatetheory and concepts and relate them to practice. Discussions reflect the student’s own arguments and are not simply a repetition of standard lecture andreference material. The work does not suffer from any major errors or omissions and provides evidence of reading beyond the required assignments. CThis is an acceptable level of performance and provides answers that are clear but limited, reflecting the information offered in the lectures and reference readings. DThis level of performances demonstrates that the student lacks a coherent grasp of the material.Important information is omitted and irrelevant points included.In effect, the student has barely done enough to persuade the instructor that s/he should not fail. FThis work fails to show any knowledge or understanding of the issues raised in the question. Most of the material in the answer is irrelevant.
-ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS:
Attendance
is compulsory. Students shall read assigned materials before classes and shall
participate to class discussions.
|
|
ACADEMIC HONESTY
As stated in the university catalog, any student who commits an act of academic
dishonesty will receive a failing grade on the work in which the dishonesty occurred.
In addition, acts of academic dishonesty, irrespective of the weight of the assignment,
may result in the student receiving a failing grade in the course. Instances of
academic dishonesty will be reported to the Dean of Academic Affairs. A student
who is reported twice for academic dishonesty is subject to summary dismissal from
the University. In such a case, the Academic Council will then make a recommendation
to the President, who will make the final decision.
|
STUDENTS WITH LEARNING OR OTHER DISABILITIES
John Cabot University does not discriminate on the basis of disability or handicap.
Students with approved accommodations must inform their professors at the beginning
of the term. Please see the website for the complete policy.
|
|
SCHEDULE
|
|
WEEK
|
DATES
|
TOPICS TO BE DISCUSSED
|
READING ASSIGNMENTS*
|
DEADLINES
|
Week 1
|
18 January
20 January
|
Introduction to the Course.
An introduction to International Law: is international law relevant?
|
Cassese, Chapter1; Dixon, Section 1; International Law is no Joke.
|
|
Week 2
|
25 January
27 January
|
The sources of international law.
Continued.
|
Cassese, Chapter 9; Dixon, Section 4.
|
|
Week 3
|
1 February
3 February
|
The law of treaties.
Reservations to international human rights treaties.
|
Cassese, Chapter 10, §§ 10.1 – 10.6. The Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties, in particular articles 19-23 and 31-33).
Dixon-Reservations; Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, Articles 2, 9, 11, 16, and 29.
|
|
Week 4
|
8 February
10 February
|
The hierarchy among the rules of international law andjus cogens.
Continued.
|
Cassese, Chapter 11, § 11.4; Dixon-Jus Cogens.
|
|
Week 5
|
15 February
17 February
|
States as the primary subjects of international law.
Other subjects of international law.
|
Cassese, Chapter 4 and section 3.8 of Chapter 3; Buying Land: Kiribati; Borgen.
Cassese, chapters 7 and 8.
|
|
Week 6
|
22 February
24 February
|
Review session
Mid-term exam
|
|
|
Week 7
|
1 March
3 March
|
Collective security and the use of armed force.
Continued.
|
Cassese, chapter 16; UN Charter, Chapter VII.
|
|
Week 8
|
8 March
10 March
|
REVIEW SESSION: discussion on projects.
The international protection of human rights.
|
Cassese, Chapter 18; CNN Article; IWPR Article.
|
7 March at 12noon: Deadline for the submission of abstract and bibliography
|
Week 9
|
15 March
17 March
|
Continued.
International criminal law.
|
Cassese, Chapter 19; The Diplomat-Myanmar article.
|
|
Week 10
|
22 March
24 March
|
SPRING BREAK
|
|
|
Week 11
|
29 March
31 March
|
International law of the sea.
Continued.
|
Cassese, chapter 5, §§ 5.4-5.5; Bryza-article.
|
29 March at 12noon: Deadline for the Submission of Powerpoint/Prezi Presentations.
|
Week 12
|
5 April
7 April
|
Students’ presentations
Students’ presentations
|
|
|
Week 13
|
12 April
14 April
|
Students’ presentations
Students’ presentations
|
|
|
Week 14
|
19 April
21 April
|
Students’ presentations
Students’ presentations
|
|
|
Week 15
|
26 April
28 April
|
The Antarctic v. the Arctic
Final review.
|
Dixon-The Antarctic v. the Arctic; Arctic map.
|
|
Week 16
|
2-6 May
|
Final exam
(Date TBA)
|
|
|
|
|