Public International Law

Course goals

1. Knowledge, understanding, insight
After this course:
•         the student knows and understands the most fundamental concepts of international law.

2. Contextual positioning
After this course:
•         the student has insights into the societal and political context in which these concepts developed and is the student able to apply these insight to current events and societal issues.
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3. General academic and legal skills
After this course:
•         the student is able to consult treaties and other relevant sources of international law, to value these, and to apply case law (collecting scientific information, valuing, and application).
•         the student is able to construct a legal argument and report this in a written production (plea or judgment) and solve a case through this.
•         the student can coherently present its argument orally in moot court.
 

Content

The Public International Law course aims to introduce  students to the most important general tenets of international law. These are the following: the nature and structure of international law; the sources of international law, with particular attention to treaty law; the subjects of international law; jurisdiction and immunities; state responsibility; peaceful settlement of disputes, the international law of peace and security and the role of the United Nations therein.

We will study the societal and political context in which international law functions, and through which the law has adapted and evolved over time. Attention will be paid to the social context of international law, with seminars in which the students are taught to apply the legal framework to current and pressing issues and debates.
In addition to the social context of international law, we will pay particular attention to the discipline’s so-called "academic context". Students will learn to develop legal analytical and argumentation skills.




Place of the course within the curriculum:
•         Compulsory course in bachelor “Rechtsgeleerdheid”