Aims

Thorough study of, and attention for new developments
relating to, selected problems of public international law: sources of
international law, including issues of treaty law, conflicts and hierarchy of
norms; interactions between international and national law; subjects of
international law, in particular non-state actors and their rights and
obligations; jurisdiction of States and jurisdictional conflicts;
responsibility of international subjects; dispute settlement and law enforcement.

Previous knowledge

No specific requirements.

Content

1-2.      Introductory Chapter. Challenges for
international law in an era of globalization; influence of globalization on
international actors, normative processes and fundamental principles of
international law
3-5.      Sources. Problems of treaty law in practice
(provisional application, interpretation, breach, modification, termination,
conflicts with other treaties or sources of international law); new
developments in the process of customary international law; the significance of
international case-law, unilateral acts and ‘soft law’ for the development of
international law
6-7.      Interactions international – EU - national
law. Mutual
interactions between international, EU and national law; doctrines of direct
effect, consistent interpretation, the hierarchical position of international
norms in the domestic legal order.
8-10.    Subjects. The emergence of non-state actors,
in particular non-governmental organizations, transnational corporations and
the individual; their legal position (rights and obligations) in international
law, their possibility to enforce claims at the international level and their
role in the development and enforcement of international law
11-13.  Jurisdiction and immunities. Territorial and
extraterritorial exercise of jurisdiction by States and conflicts in this
respect; immunities and their relationship to other international and national
norms
 
14-15.  Responsibility. Responsibility of
international subjects: from State responsibility to international (criminal)
responsibility of individuals
16-17. Dispute
settlement. Diplomatic and judicial methods of dispute settlement in
international law, with special emphasis on the role of the International Court
of Justice and the proliferation of international courts and tribunals
18-19. Actualia.
Attention for current developments in selected areas of international law, such
as the law of outer space, the fight against terrorism, the right to
self-determination, international law aspects of democracy and rule of law

Course material

Articles and literature
Toledo / e-platform

Is also included in other courses

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