730-307 International Law

Principles of Public Law.

This subject will introduce students to the general principles underlying contemporary public international law. It will examine and critically assess issues such as:

• the scope, nature and development of international law;

• sources of international law, principally the treaties and customary international law;

• theories of international law;

• the institutional framework for the development and implementation of international law, including the United Nations system and the international Court of Justice;

• the relationship between international law and domestic law;

• legal personality under international law including the criteria for statehood and the status of non state entities;

• the means of acquiring territory;

• bases of state jurisdictional competence including state and diplomatic immunity;

• state responsibility for wrongful acts under international law;

• the regulation or the use of force and the right to self-defence.

Final examination three hours 100% OR written assignment 2000 words 40% (due end of semester) and final examination two hours 60%.

Printed materials will be issued by the Faculty of Law.

• Dixon M & McCorquodale R, Cases and Materials on International Law. Oxford University Press.