RGMUIER0317.5 ECTSQ1EnglishMaster
International Security Law
FaculteitFaculty of Law, Economics and Governance
NiveauMaster
Studiejaar2026-2027
Beschrijving
Course goals
- The students have solid knowledge and understanding of the law, practice and institutions of the United Nations, with a special focus on the role of the Security Council, as well as other regional arrangements and approaches to international security;
- The students are able to assess the legal controversies surrounding coercive and non-coercive measures pertaining to international peace and security, including the political and social context, and in each case distinguish arguments based on primary sources or scholarly debates, critically analyse them and give due considerations to the progressive development of international law;
- The students have gained a critical understanding of human rights implications pertaining to coercive and non-coercive measures pertaining to international peace and security;
- The students construct and present relevant, persuasive and coherent legal arguments during working group discussion.
Content
The existing legal framework on international peace and security was founded on the ashes of the Second World War with the primary aim of preventing new inter-State wars. However, the threats to international peace have since evolved to include terrorism, humanitarian disasters and pandemics, to name but a few. In light of these developments, it must be asked whether existing norms on peace and security can address these new security challenges. One controversial topic, for example, is whether States should be able to exercise their right to self-defence against terrorists.
In this course, we will examine how the international legal framework on peace and security regulates, and is affected by, these evolving security challenges. The course will begin with an overview of the mandates of the UN Security Council and General Assembly to maintain international peace and security. In subsequent weeks, we will delve into topics such as the use of force, peacekeeping, sanctions, and other contemporary challenges to international security. Although we will focus primarily on the UN system, we will also engage with other regimes that inform and influence collective security institutions. For example, we will scrutinise how the UN reforms on sanctions and peacekeeping were partly triggered by the case law of domestic and regional courts.
The course is designed for students interested in international law, international relations and politics.
Place of the course in the curriculum:
In this course, we will examine how the international legal framework on peace and security regulates, and is affected by, these evolving security challenges. The course will begin with an overview of the mandates of the UN Security Council and General Assembly to maintain international peace and security. In subsequent weeks, we will delve into topics such as the use of force, peacekeeping, sanctions, and other contemporary challenges to international security. Although we will focus primarily on the UN system, we will also engage with other regimes that inform and influence collective security institutions. For example, we will scrutinise how the UN reforms on sanctions and peacekeeping were partly triggered by the case law of domestic and regional courts.
The course is designed for students interested in international law, international relations and politics.
Place of the course in the curriculum:
- Compulsory course in the specialisation ‘Conflict and Security Law’
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