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Kies de Nederlandse taal
Course module: UCSSCLAW21
UCSSCLAW21
International Law
Course info
Course codeUCSSCLAW21
EC7.5
Course goals
After completing this course students are able to:
  • define specific characteristics of international law.
  • apply basic skills of research, analysis, and argumentation within an international legal context.
  • discuss the role of international law in international relations and its impact upon the daily lives of individuals.
Content
The first part of this course focuses on law formation and law enforcement at the international level. It provides students with basic knowledge of the main legal principles that govern international relations, as well as some insight into the theoretical framework of the international legal order. Topics include: the legal character of international law and its role and limitations in the conduct of foreign policy, the principal sources of legal obligation at the international level (treaties, custom and general principles, decisions of international organizations, courts, etc.), participants in the international legal system, sovereignty and the State, the United Nations, conflict regulation, the rules governing the use of force  and the law of armed conflict, and tribunals and the prosecution of offenders.  
The second part of the course concentrates on applying the rules and principles contained in this theoretical framework to an actual case or situation through a moot court that simulates an international court or tribunal. Students divide into teams to research, prepare, and deliver legal arguments relating to a case based upon real events. This provides students with a better understanding of the relationship between the principles and practices used in legal discourse. 

Format
The first part of this course provides a theoretical framework for further study. Lectures introduce main principles, and seminars are meant for discussion and the analysis of relevant treaties, state practice, and case law. Students’ knowledge is tested with a midterm exam. The second part of the course is devoted to the preparation and presentation of moot court simulations and comprises the remaining six weeks of the semester. The instructor ‘coaches’ the teams after they have completed the necessary research. The teams prepare written arguments in the form of a memorial or brief and present their arguments orally in a simulated courtroom environment. During the final week, proceedings are completed and participants receive feedback on their performance. 
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Kies de Nederlandse taal