International law knowledge: This module will provide students with an in-depth understanding of the complex international legal questions that make the headlines;

Interrelationship between law and politics knowledge: Students will learn to demonstrate and critically evaluate how law and politics interrelate and how issues of globalisation are incorporated into the international legal language;

Critical analysis of media and international law: The module will also encourage students to take a step back and critically analyse why it is that international law seems to be focussed on crises that make headlines;

Through the means of recognising and ranking complex issues, a further site of enquiry will be the question of whether there is also an every-day international law that is not discussed in the news?

Understanding doctrine and theory: The module will analyse the relationship between doctrine (treaties, statutes) and theory in international law. It wil l encourage an employment of critical legal theory to understand some of the power struggles of international law.

(LO1) Identify and critically assess international legal debates in current affairs;

(LO2) Understand how current affairs themselves impact on international law;

(LO3) Critically analyse the predominant international legal issues prevalent in current affairs debates with reference to specific key issue-areas (e.g. the ‘war on terror’ in general and the Iraq and Afghanistan wars in particular, the ‘Arab Spring’ in general and the arrest warrant of Muammar Gaddafi in particular) and primary and secondary sources;

(LO4) Question and assess the emphasis of crises in international law and identify issues that are a concern to international law but do not make the headlines;

(LO5) Present a news item, in a group, in its international legal context;

(LO6) Speak elloquently about the complexitities of international law in current affairs, and the available sources

(S1) Improving own learning/performance - Reflective practice

(S2) Improving own learning/performance - Self-awareness/self-analysis

(S3) Communication (oral, written and visual) - Presentation skills – oral

(S4) Communication (oral, written and visual) - Listening skills

(S5) Communication (oral, written and visual) - Influencing skills – argumentation

(S6) Communication (oral, written and visual) - Academic writing (inc. referencing skills)

(S7) Communication (oral, written and visual) - Communicating for audience

(S8) Communication (oral, written and visual) - Media analysis

(S9) Critical thinking and problem solving - Critical analysis

(S10) Critical thinking and problem solving - Evaluation

(S11) Critical thinking and problem solving - Problem identification

(S12) Critical thinking and problem solving - Creative thinking

(S13) Working in groups and teams - Group action planning

(S14) Working in groups and teams - Time management

(S15) Information skills - Critical reading

(S16) Information skills - Information accessing:[Locating relevant information] [Identifying and evaluating information sources]

(S17) Global citizenship - Cultural awareness

(S18) Global citizenship - Relevant economic/political understanding

(S19) Global citizenship - Ethical awareness

(S20) Global citizenship - Understanding of equality and diversity

The module will examine the following topics:

Key principles in international law

- The Iraq war (sovereignty, sovereign equality, non-intervention)

- Guantanamo Bay (sources of international law)

- The Charles Taylor Trial (fragmentation)

Subjects/Actors of international law

- The status of Palestine in the international community (States and Statehood)

- Private military companies (State and non-State actors)

- Human rights responsibilities of oil companies (multinational corporations)

- The Kony 2012 movement (individuals)

International law and (ongoing) crises

- Poverty (is there an international law response?)

- The Arab Spring (is a crisis required for international law to become relevant?)

- Drone strikes and cyber war (new challenges through technology)

Teaching Method 1 - Lecture
Description:
Attendance Recorded: Not yet decided
Notes: There will be 11 one-hour lectures with the first 5-10 minutes reserved for group presentations.

Teaching Method 2 - Tutorial
Description:
Attendance Recorded: Not yet decided
Notes: There will be four tutorials, each 1,5 hours long.

Teaching Method 3 - Field Work
Description:
Attendance Recorded: Not yet decided

Teaching Method 4 - Assessment
Description:
Attendance Recorded: Not yet decided