Public International Law (LAW252H1S)

This course provides an overview of the structure and process of the international legal system. It will canvass the conceptual and institutional foundations of international law and provide an introduction to the main theoretical debates in the field.

Students will be introduced to: the sources of international law (treaties, custom, and the debates about the role of other sources); the concept of international legal personality (the concept of the sovereign state; the evolving role of other international actors, such as international organizations, non-governmental organizations and individuals); questions of jurisdiction over territory and persons; the relationship between international and domestic law; the peaceful settlement of international disputes.

Topical areas covered in the course may include: the key features of the UN system (UN Charter; the roles of UN organs such as the Security Council and the International Court of Justice); the law relating to the use of force; the law of state responsibility; the protection of human rights; international criminal law; international humanitarian law; the law of the sea.