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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

COURSE CODE: "PL/LAW 320-3"
COURSE NAME: "Public International Law"
SEMESTER & YEAR: Spring 2025
SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: Salvatore Caserta
EMAIL: [email protected]
 HOURS: MW 8:30-9:45 AM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS: 45
CREDITS: 3
PREREQUISITES:
OFFICE HOURS:
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:

This course explores how the international legal system works from a legal and political perspective, shaping international relations today. The course develops the students’ ability to identify, analyze and work with international legal issues in a competent legal manner. It provides the students with the necessary skills needed to recognize matters of international law as well as the ability to relate more broadly to issues of an international character. We will cover the most relevant topics of public international law, such as foundations and structures of international, sources of international law, the actors in the international legal system, the principles of jurisdiction and diplomatic protection, state responsibility, the peaceful settlement of disputes, the international regulation of the use of force, and the law of armed conflict. The course also branches out to some sister disciplines such as international criminal law and human rights. 

Week 1 – What is International Law? Introduction and Historical Overview

Mandatory Readings:

-          Jan Klabbers, International Law, Ch. 1

-          Karen Alter’s blog post on Ukraine and Russia – Has Putin broken international law? Available at: http://edition.cnn.com/2014/03/05/opinion/alter-ukraine-international-law/index.html

-          Excerpts from Anthonie Anghie, Imperialism, Sovereignty, and the Making of International Law, Cambridge University Press 2004.

Class 1: Introduction and historical developments

Class 2: Institutional framework, the functions, and the limitations of international Law

Week 2 – The Sources of International Law: Treaties and Customs

Mandatory Readings:

-          Jan Klabbers, International Law, Ch. 2 & 3

-          Excerpts from LaGrand Case

Class 1: The law of the treaties and principles of interpretation

Class 2: International customs, jus cogens, and other sources

Week 3 – The Actors of International Law: Statehood

Mandatory Readings:

-          Jan Klabbers, International Law, Ch. 4

-          Excerpts from ICJ advisory opinion on Kosovo

Class 1: What is a state? The case of Palestine                                  

Class 2: Self-determination and recognition – The case of Kosovo

Week 4 – Jurisdiction and Sovereignty

Mandatory Readings:

-          James Crawford, Brownlie’s Principles of Public International Law (8th edition), Chapter 22

-          Excerpts from Arrest Warrant case

Class 1: Jurisdiction and acquisition of sovereignty

Class 2: The exercise of universal jurisdiction

Week 5 – Immunities of Foreign States and Consular Relations

Mandatory Readings:

-          Anders Henriksen, International Law, Ch 6

-          Excerpts from Hostages case

Class 1: General principles

Class 2: The Hostages case


Week 6 – International Dispute Settlement and the ICJ

Mandatory Readings:

-          Jan Klabbers, International Law, Ch. 8

-          Excerpts from Nicaragua and Avena cases

Class 1: The International Court of Justice – institutional structure and jurisprudential developments

Class 2: The International Court of Justice -- jurisdiction and implementation

Week 7 – Regional Organizations and Other International Courts

Mandatory Readings:

-          Karen Alter, The New Terrain of International Law: Courts, Politics, Rights, Ch. 1 and 4

Class 1:  The global spread of international courts and the diffusion of European model

Class 2: Regional courts in Europe, Latin America and Africa

Week 8 – State Responsibility

Mandatory Readings:

-          Jan Klabbers, International Law, Ch. 7

-          Excerpts from Hostages and Rainbow Warrior (PCA) cases

Class 1: General principles

Class 2: Jurisprudential developments

Week 9 – The International Regulation of the Use of Force

Mandatory Readings:

-          Jan Klabbers, International Law, Ch. 9 and 10

Class 1: General principles

Class 2: Case study 

Week 10 – The Law of Armed Conflicts

Mandatory Readings:

-          Jan Klabbers, International Law, Ch. 11

-          Excerpts from the ICJ advisory opinion on nuclear weapons

Class 1: General principles

Class 2: Nuclear weapons, drones and target killings

Week 11 – International Criminal Law and the ICC

Mandatory Readings:

-          Jan Klabbers, International Law, Ch. 12

-          Leslie Vinjamuri: The International Criminal Court and the Paradox of Authority, 79 Law and Contemporary Problems (2016)

Class 1: The History of International Criminal Law and the ICC

Class 2: The backlash against the ICC

Week 12 – International Human Rights

Mandatory Readings:

-          Anders Henriksen, International Law, Ch. 9

-          Eyal Benvenisti, Margin of Appreciation, Consensus, and Universal Standards, 31 New York University Journal of International Law and Politics (1999)

Class 1:  Institutional framework

Class 2:  The European Court of Human Rights and the margin of appreciation

Week 13 – The International Law of the Sea and the ITLOS

Mandatory Readings:

-          Anders Henriksen, International Law, Ch. 8

-          Thomas Mensah, The International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea, 11 Leiden Journal of International Law (1998)

Class 1: General issues on the law of the sea               

Class 2:  The International Tribunal of the Law of the Sea

Week 14 – Contemporary Debates and Conclusions

Week 1 – What is International Law? Introduction and Historical Overview

Mandatory Readings:

-          Jan Klabbers, International Law, Ch. 1

-          Karen Alter’s blog post on Ukraine and Russia – Has Putin broken international law? Available at: http://edition.cnn.com/2014/03/05/opinion/alter-ukraine-international-law/index.html

-          Excerpts from Anthonie Anghie, Imperialism, Sovereignty, and the Making of International Law, Cambridge University Press 2004.

Class 1: Introduction and historical developments

Class 2: Institutional framework, the functions, and the limitations of international Law

Week 2 – The Sources of International Law: Treaties and Customs

Mandatory Readings:

-          Jan Klabbers, International Law, Ch. 2 & 3

-          Excerpts from LaGrand Case

Class 1: The law of the treaties and principles of interpretation

Class 2: International customs, jus cogens, and other sources

Week 3 – The Actors of International Law: Statehood

Mandatory Readings:

-          Jan Klabbers, International Law, Ch. 4

-          Excerpts from ICJ advisory opinion on Kosovo

Class 1: What is a state? The case of Palestine                                  

Class 2: Self-determination and recognition – The case of Kosovo

Week 4 – Jurisdiction and Sovereignty

Mandatory Readings:

-          James Crawford, Brownlie’s Principles of Public International Law (8th edition), Chapter 22

-          Excerpts from Arrest Warrant case

Class 1: Jurisdiction and acquisition of sovereignty

Class 2: The exercise of universal jurisdiction

Week 5 – Immunities of Foreign States and Consular Relations

Mandatory Readings:

-          Anders Henriksen, International Law, Ch 6

-          Excerpts from Hostages case

Class 1: General principles

Class 2: The Hostages case


Week 6 – International Dispute Settlement and the ICJ

Mandatory Readings:

-          Jan Klabbers, International Law, Ch. 8

-          Excerpts from Nicaragua and Avena cases

Class 1: The International Court of Justice – institutional structure and jurisprudential developments

Class 2: The International Court of Justice -- jurisdiction and implementation

Week 7 – Regional Organizations and Other International Courts

Mandatory Readings:

-          Karen Alter, The New Terrain of International Law: Courts, Politics, Rights, Ch. 1 and 4

Class 1:  The global spread of international courts and the diffusion of European model

Class 2: Regional courts in Europe, Latin America and Africa

Week 8 – State Responsibility

Mandatory Readings:

-          Jan Klabbers, International Law, Ch. 7

-          Excerpts from Hostages and Rainbow Warrior (PCA) cases

Class 1: General principles

Class 2: Jurisprudential developments

Week 9 – The International Regulation of the Use of Force

Mandatory Readings:

-          Jan Klabbers, International Law, Ch. 9 and 10

Class 1: General principles

Class 2: Case study 

Week 10 – The Law of Armed Conflicts

Mandatory Readings:

-          Jan Klabbers, International Law, Ch. 11

-          Excerpts from the ICJ advisory opinion on nuclear weapons

Class 1: General principles

Class 2: Nuclear weapons, drones and target killings

Week 11 – International Criminal Law and the ICC

Mandatory Readings:

-          Jan Klabbers, International Law, Ch. 12

-          Leslie Vinjamuri: The International Criminal Court and the Paradox of Authority, 79 Law and Contemporary Problems (2016)

Class 1: The History of International Criminal Law and the ICC

Class 2: The backlash against the ICC

Week 12 – International Human Rights

Mandatory Readings:

-          Anders Henriksen, International Law, Ch. 9

-          Eyal Benvenisti, Margin of Appreciation, Consensus, and Universal Standards, 31 New York University Journal of International Law and Politics (1999)

Class 1:  Institutional framework

Class 2:  The European Court of Human Rights and the margin of appreciation

Week 13 – The International Law of the Sea and the ITLOS

Mandatory Readings:

-          Anders Henriksen, International Law, Ch. 8

-          Thomas Mensah, The International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea, 11 Leiden Journal of International Law (1998)

Class 1: General issues on the law of the sea               

Class 2:  The International Tribunal of the Law of the Sea

Week 14 – Contemporary Debates and Conclusions

Week 1 – What is International Law? Introduction and Historical Overview

Mandatory Readings:

-          Jan Klabbers, International Law, Ch. 1

-          Karen Alter’s blog post on Ukraine and Russia – Has Putin broken international law? Available at: http://edition.cnn.com/2014/03/05/opinion/alter-ukraine-international-law/index.html

-          Excerpts from Anthonie Anghie, Imperialism, Sovereignty, and the Making of International Law, Cambridge University Press 2004.

Class 1: Introduction and historical developments

Class 2: Institutional framework, the functions, and the limitations of international Law

Week 2 – The Sources of International Law: Treaties and Customs

Mandatory Readings:

-          Jan Klabbers, International Law, Ch. 2 & 3

-          Excerpts from LaGrand Case

Class 1: The law of the treaties and principles of interpretation

Class 2: International customs, jus cogens, and other sources

Week 3 – The Actors of International Law: Statehood

Mandatory Readings:

-          Jan Klabbers, International Law, Ch. 4

-          Excerpts from ICJ advisory opinion on Kosovo

Class 1: What is a state? The case of Palestine                                  

Class 2: Self-determination and recognition – The case of Kosovo

Week 4 – Jurisdiction and Sovereignty

Mandatory Readings:

-          James Crawford, Brownlie’s Principles of Public International Law (8th edition), Chapter 22

-          Excerpts from Arrest Warrant case

Class 1: Jurisdiction and acquisition of sovereignty

Class 2: The exercise of universal jurisdiction

Week 5 – Immunities of Foreign States and Consular Relations

Mandatory Readings:

-          Anders Henriksen, International Law, Ch 6

-          Excerpts from Hostages case

Class 1: General principles

Class 2: The Hostages case


Week 6 – International Dispute Settlement and the ICJ

Mandatory Readings:

-          Jan Klabbers, International Law, Ch. 8

-          Excerpts from Nicaragua and Avena cases

Class 1: The International Court of Justice – institutional structure and jurisprudential developments

Class 2: The International Court of Justice -- jurisdiction and implementation

Week 7 – Regional Organizations and Other International Courts

Mandatory Readings:

-          Karen Alter, The New Terrain of International Law: Courts, Politics, Rights, Ch. 1 and 4

Class 1:  The global spread of international courts and the diffusion of European model

Class 2: Regional courts in Europe, Latin America and Africa

Week 8 – State Responsibility

Mandatory Readings:

-          Jan Klabbers, International Law, Ch. 7

-          Excerpts from Hostages and Rainbow Warrior (PCA) cases

Class 1: General principles

Class 2: Jurisprudential developments

Week 9 – The International Regulation of the Use of Force

Mandatory Readings:

-          Jan Klabbers, International Law, Ch. 9 and 10

Class 1: General principles

Class 2: Case study 

Week 10 – The Law of Armed Conflicts

Mandatory Readings:

-          Jan Klabbers, International Law, Ch. 11

-          Excerpts from the ICJ advisory opinion on nuclear weapons

Class 1: General principles

Class 2: Nuclear weapons, drones and target killings

Week 11 – International Criminal Law and the ICC

Mandatory Readings:

-          Jan Klabbers, International Law, Ch. 12

-          Leslie Vinjamuri: The International Criminal Court and the Paradox of Authority, 79 Law and Contemporary Problems (2016)

Class 1: The History of International Criminal Law and the ICC

Class 2: The backlash against the ICC

Week 12 – International Human Rights

Mandatory Readings:

-          Anders Henriksen, International Law, Ch. 9

-          Eyal Benvenisti, Margin of Appreciation, Consensus, and Universal Standards, 31 New York University Journal of International Law and Politics (1999)

Class 1:  Institutional framework

Class 2:  The European Court of Human Rights and the margin of appreciation

Week 13 – The International Law of the Sea and the ITLOS

Mandatory Readings:

-          Anders Henriksen, International Law, Ch. 8

-          Thomas Mensah, The International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea, 11 Leiden Journal of International Law (1998)

Class 1: General issues on the law of the sea               

Class 2:  The International Tribunal of the Law of the Sea

Week 14 – Contemporary Debates and Conclusions

Week 1 – What is International Law? Introduction and Historical Overview

Mandatory Readings:

-          Jan Klabbers, International Law, Ch. 1

-          Karen Alter’s blog post on Ukraine and Russia – Has Putin broken international law? Available at: http://edition.cnn.com/2014/03/05/opinion/alter-ukraine-international-law/index.html

-          Excerpts from Anthonie Anghie, Imperialism, Sovereignty, and the Making of International Law, Cambridge University Press 2004.

Class 1: Introduction and historical developments

Class 2: Institutional framework, the functions, and the limitations of international Law

Week 2 – The Sources of International Law: Treaties and Customs

Mandatory Readings:

-          Jan Klabbers, International Law, Ch. 2 & 3

-          Excerpts from LaGrand Case

Class 1: The law of the treaties and principles of interpretation

Class 2: International customs, jus cogens, and other sources

Week 3 – The Actors of International Law: Statehood

Mandatory Readings:

-          Jan Klabbers, International Law, Ch. 4

-          Excerpts from ICJ advisory opinion on Kosovo

Class 1: What is a state? The case of Palestine                                  

Class 2: Self-determination and recognition – The case of Kosovo

Week 4 – Jurisdiction and Sovereignty

Mandatory Readings:

-          James Crawford, Brownlie’s Principles of Public International Law (8th edition), Chapter 22

-          Excerpts from Arrest Warrant case

Class 1: Jurisdiction and acquisition of sovereignty

Class 2: The exercise of universal jurisdiction

Week 5 – Immunities of Foreign States and Consular Relations

Mandatory Readings:

-          Anders Henriksen, International Law, Ch 6

-          Excerpts from Hostages case

Class 1: General principles

Class 2: The Hostages case


Week 6 – International Dispute Settlement and the ICJ

Mandatory Readings:

-          Jan Klabbers, International Law, Ch. 8

-          Excerpts from Nicaragua and Avena cases

Class 1: The International Court of Justice – institutional structure and jurisprudential developments

Class 2: The International Court of Justice -- jurisdiction and implementation

Week 7 – Regional Organizations and Other International Courts

Mandatory Readings:

-          Karen Alter, The New Terrain of International Law: Courts, Politics, Rights, Ch. 1 and 4

Class 1:  The global spread of international courts and the diffusion of European model

Class 2: Regional courts in Europe, Latin America and Africa

Week 8 – State Responsibility

Mandatory Readings:

-          Jan Klabbers, International Law, Ch. 7

-          Excerpts from Hostages and Rainbow Warrior (PCA) cases

Class 1: General principles

Class 2: Jurisprudential developments

Week 9 – The International Regulation of the Use of Force

Mandatory Readings:

-          Jan Klabbers, International Law, Ch. 9 and 10

Class 1: General principles

Class 2: Case study 

Week 10 – The Law of Armed Conflicts

Mandatory Readings:

-          Jan Klabbers, International Law, Ch. 11

-          Excerpts from the ICJ advisory opinion on nuclear weapons

Class 1: General principles

Class 2: Nuclear weapons, drones and target killings

Week 11 – International Criminal Law and the ICC

Mandatory Readings:

-          Jan Klabbers, International Law, Ch. 12

-          Leslie Vinjamuri: The International Criminal Court and the Paradox of Authority, 79 Law and Contemporary Problems (2016)

Class 1: The History of International Criminal Law and the ICC

Class 2: The backlash against the ICC

Week 12 – International Human Rights

Mandatory Readings:

-          Anders Henriksen, International Law, Ch. 9

-          Eyal Benvenisti, Margin of Appreciation, Consensus, and Universal Standards, 31 New York University Journal of International Law and Politics (1999)

Class 1:  Institutional framework

Class 2:  The European Court of Human Rights and the margin of appreciation

Week 13 – The International Law of the Sea and the ITLOS

Mandatory Readings:

-          Anders Henriksen, International Law, Ch. 8

-          Thomas Mensah, The International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea, 11 Leiden Journal of International Law (1998)

Class 1: General issues on the law of the sea               

Class 2:  The International Tribunal of the Law of the Sea

Week 14 – Contemporary Debates and Conclusions
LEARNING OUTCOMES:

The objective of the course is to enable the students to:

- Identify the main institutions and topics in the field of public international law.

- Identify, explain, and critically discuss the main theoretical and practical issues related to the emergence of forms of international governance and laws.

- Communicate their knowledge and formulate arguments in a structured and coherent way.

The teaching provides the students with the skills needed to establish an independent and critical attitude to concrete issues of international law and to relate, in a balanced and reflective manner, to the inherent tensions of international law and to the borderline between politics and law.
TEXTBOOK:
Book TitleAuthorPublisherISBN numberLibrary Call NumberCommentsFormatLocal BookstoreOnline Purchase
International Law (4th edition)Jan KlabbersCambridge University Press1009304321     
International Law (4th edition)Anders HenriksenOxford University Press0192870084     
REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
Book TitleAuthorPublisherISBN numberLibrary Call NumberComments
The New Terrain of International Law - Courts, Law and PolicyKaren AlterPrinceton University Press0691154740  

RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
NONE
GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
AssignmentGuidelinesWeight
Individual Written Assignment, 24 hours 40%
Midterm written assignment 30%
In class exercises/group works 20%
Class participation 10%

-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 REQUIREMENTS AND EXAMINATION POLICY

Attendance is mandatory. Students shall read assigned materials before classes and shall participate to class discussions

You cannot make-up a major exam (midterm or final) without the permission of the Dean’s Office. The Dean’s Office will grant such permission only when the absence was caused by a serious impediment, such as a documented illness, hospitalization or death in the immediate family (in which you must attend the funeral) or other situations of similar gravity. Absences due to other meaningful conflicts, such as job interviews, family celebrations, travel difficulties, student misunderstandings or personal convenience, will not be excused. Students who will be absent from a major exam must notify the Dean’s Office prior to that exam. Absences from class due to the observance of a religious holiday will normally be excused. Individual students who will have to miss class to observe a religious holiday should notify the instructor by the end of the Add/Drop period to make prior arrangements for making up any work that will be missed. The final exam period runs until May 5/9
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 1 – What is International Law? Introduction and Historical Overview

Mandatory Readings:

-          Jan Klabbers, International Law, Ch. 1.

-          Excerpts from Anthonie Anghie, Imperialism, Sovereignty, and the Making of International Law, Cambridge University Press 2004.

Class 1: Introduction and historical developments

Class 2: Institutional framework, the functions, and the limitations of international Law

 

Week 2 – The Sources of International Law: Treaties and Customs

Mandatory Readings:

-          Jan Klabbers, International Law, Ch. 2 & 3.

-          Excerpts from LaGrand.

-          Excerpts from ICTY, Trial Chamber, Prosecutor v Anto Furundžija, judgement of 10 December 1998, paras 147-157.

-          Excerpts from House of Lords (UK), R. v Bow Street Metropolitan Stipendiary Magistrate and others, ex parte Pinochet Ugarte (No. 3), judgement of 24 March 1999 [2000] A.C. 147.

 

Class 1: The law of the treaties and the principles of interpretation.

Class 2: International customs, jus cogens, and other sources.

 

Week 3 – The Actors of International Law: Statehood

Mandatory Readings:

-          Jan Klabbers, International Law, Ch. 4.

-          Excerpts from ICJ advisory opinion on Kosovo.

Class 1: What is a state? The Montevideo Convention applied to the case of Palestine.                                    

Class 2: Self-determination and recognition – The case of Kosovo.

 

Week 4 – Jurisdiction and Sovereignty

Mandatory Readings:

-          James Crawford, Brownlie’s Principles of Public International Law (8th edition), Chapter 22.

-          Excerpts from Arrest Warrant case.

Class 1: Jurisdiction and acquisition of sovereignty.

Class 2: The exercise of universal jurisdiction.

 

Week 5 – Immunities of Foreign States and Consular Relations

Mandatory Readings:

-          Anders Henriksen, International Law, Ch 6.

-          Excerpts from Hostages case

Class 1: General principles.

Class 2: The Hostages case.

 

Week 6 – International Dispute Settlement and the ICJ

Mandatory Readings:

-          Jan Klabbers, International Law, Ch. 8.

-          Excerpts from Nicaragua and Avena cases.

Class 1: The International Court of Justice – institutional structure and jurisprudential developments.

Class 2: The International Court of Justice -- jurisdiction and implementation.

 

Week 7 – Regional Organizations and Other International Courts

Mandatory Readings:

-          Karen Alter, The New Terrain of International Law: Courts, Politics, Rights, Ch. 1 and 4.

Class 1: The global spread of international courts and the diffusion of European model.

Class 2: Regional courts in Europe, Latin America and Africa,

 

Week 8 – State Responsibility

Mandatory Readings:

-          Jan Klabbers, International Law, Ch. 7.

-          Excerpts from Hostages and Rainbow Warrior (PCA) cases.

Class 1: General principles.

Class 2: Jurisprudential developments.

 

Week 9 – The International Regulation of the Use of Force

Mandatory Readings:

-          Jan Klabbers, International Law, Ch. 9 and 10.

Class 1: General principles.

Class 2: Case study.

 

Week 10 – The Law of Armed Conflicts

Mandatory Readings:

-          Jan Klabbers, International Law, Ch. 11.

-          Excerpts from the ICJ advisory opinion on nuclear weapons.

Class 1: General principles

Class 2: Nuclear weapons, drones and target killings

 

Week 11 – International Criminal Law and the ICC

Mandatory Readings:

-          Jan Klabbers, International Law, Ch. 12.

-          Leslie Vinjamuri: The International Criminal Court and the Paradox of Authority, 79 Law and Contemporary Problems (2016).

Class 1: The history of international criminal law and the ICC.

Class 2: The backlash against the ICC and recent developments.

 

Week 12 – International Human Rights Law

Mandatory Readings:

-          Anders Henriksen, International Law, Ch. 9

-          Eyal Benvenisti, Margin of Appreciation, Consensus, and Universal Standards, 31 New York University Journal of International Law and Politics (1999)

Class 1:  Institutional framework.

Class 2:  The European Court of Human Rights and the margin of appreciation.

 

Week 13 – UN Human Rights Organs and their Contributions

Mandatory Readings:

-          J Connors, ‘United Nations’ in Moeckli et al (eds) International Human Rights Law (3rd edn, 2018) Oxford University Press 369-403.

-          Rieter, Eva. "The International Court of Justice and Its Contribution to Human Rights Law: Final Report of the ILA International Human Rights Law Committee (Part 1)." Judging International Human Rights: Courts of General Jurisdiction as Human Rights Courts (2019): 19-50.

-          Excepts from ICJ, Adv. Op. on LEGAL CONSEQUENCES ARISING FROM THE POLICIES AND PRACTICES OF ISRAEL IN THE OCCUPIED PALESTINIAN TERRITORY, INCLUDING EAST JERUSALEM, 19-07-1984

 

Class 1: UN Charter Organs and Human Rights.         

Class 2:  The Contribution of the ICJ to the Development of Human Rights – The Advisory Opinion on Palestine.

 

Week 14 – Contemporary Issues: Western Centrism in International Law and Overcoming Fragmentation

Mandatory Reading:

-          S Caserta. “Western Centrism, Contemporary International Law, and International Courts” 34 Leiden Journal of International Law 2 (2021), pp. 321-342.

-          S Caserta & MR Madsen, Caserta, Salvatore, and Mikael Madsen. "When the Sun, the Moon and the Stars Align: Litigating LGBTQI Rights and the Death Penalty in East Africa and the Caribbean." European Journal of International Law (2024).

Class 1: Backlash against international law and institutions.

Class 2: Beyond fragmentation of international law: litigating human rights in multilevel judicial systems.