The module provides students with an in-depth specialist knowledge of the principles and structure of international law, with special emphasis on law-making processes;

Critical tools for an understanding of the interaction of political and legal factors in the conduct of international relations;

Ability to identify the law and apply it correctly to hypothetical scenarios informed by major doctrinal and policy concerns;

Ability to undertake independent research and reflect on today’s most debated theoretical and practical issue in the field;

Ability to construct coherent legal arguments orally and in writing;

Ability to interpret and evaluate international legal materials against the backdrop of multiple international, regional and domestic legal and policy frameworks.

(LO1) A critical understanding and knowledge of the principles that form the basis of the law governing inter-state relations

(LO2) An ability to identify complex international legal issues and problems including those suitable for further research

(LO3) An ability to work effectively with all relevant primary and secondary international legal sources, including complex materials, and to inform and develop understanding of a given topic

(LO4) An awareness of the interaction of political and legal factors in the conduct of international relations

(LO5) An ability to apply legal knowledge to complex situations including those involving doctrinal disputes over the theory and practice of international law, and to offer own reasoned views over such legal disputes

(LO6) An ability to construct coherent legal arguments orally and in writing

(LO7) An ability to undertake independent research, and to think critically about international legal issues

(LO8) An ability to interpret and evaluate international legal materials within the wider context of international relations and domestic practices

(S1) Conduct independent research and critical analysis

(S2) Problem Solving

(S3) Verbal communication and reasoning

(S4) Effective legal reasoning

Nature, history and basis of international law;

Sources of international law: overview;

Customary international law and the role of soft law Subjects of international law;

Statehood and the role of recognition;

State jurisdiction: principles and practice;

State & diplomatic immunities;

The International Court of Justice: established and emerging case law;

International law and domestic law;

[Please note that not all the above topics may necessarily be taught in any given semester.]

Teaching Pattern
Learning and teaching on this module will be structured in accordance with the principles of Hybrid Active Learning with asynchronous materials and synchronous seminar sessions. Asynchronous recordings provide material previously addressed in physical lectures, suitably broken down (‘chunking’) and augmented (e.g. quizzes etc) so as to enhance student engagement. Synchronous sessions will run on a fortnightly pattern across the semester (i.e. 6 in total) and will each have a duration of 2 hours.

Module Delivery
Combination of asynchronous and synchronous sessions i.e. Hybrid Active Learning

• Synchronous sessions (FTF and/or via Zoom)
• Asynchronous materials (recorded short lectures; reading lists; seminar questions for consideration and possibly problem solving exercises)