Week I Introduction
Glennon, Why the Security Council Failed; Koh, The Obama Administration and International Law
Weeks II - III Sources of IL: custom
Shah, International Law, ch. 3, pp. 69-89; The Paquete Habana
In-class exercise #1: does international customary law prohibit the death penalty
Week IV Sources of IL: Treaties and Jus Cogens
Shaw, International Law, ch. 3, pp. 93-98; Vienna Convention Reservations Handout; Human Rights Council, General Comment No 24
Week V International Legal Personality, Territory
Shaw, International Law, ch. 5; Canadian Supreme Court, Reference re Secession of Quebec; Crimea
Week VI Midterm #1 review and exam
Weeks VII - VIII Jus ad bellum
Shaw, ch. 20; Iraq War, Bush Doctrine: Robertson, pp. 728-748; Humanitarian Intervention: Robertson, pp. 781-836; Self-Defense (terrorism): Robertson, pp. 670-679
In-class exercise #2: can an unauthorized intervention to topple the Assad government in Syria be justified under international law?
Week IX Jus in bello
Shaw, ch. 21; Geneva Conventions handout; General: Robertson, pp. 292-312; Kennedy, Lawfare and Warfare; McMahan, Rethinking the Just War; US Occupation of Iraq: Robertson, pp. 756-771; Guantanamo: Robertson, pp. 679-690; Targeting killings: Robertson, pp. 691-707; Heymann and Blum, ch. 4; Department of Justice White Paper; Weapons: Robertson, pp. 313-332; Taxi to the Dark Side (film)
Week X Midterm #2 review and exam
Weeks XI-XII International Criminal Law; jurisdiction and immunity
Robertson, chs. 6 – 11; Italian Constitutional Court, Germany v. Italy
Weeks XIII- XIV International Law in National Courts
de Burca, International Law before the Courts; tba
Week XIV Final Review