International organisations play an increasingly important role in the international community. There are many types of international organisations – both in terms of their size and objectives. Within this diverse group of organisations there are a number of similar day-to-day problems with which each of them is confronted. In this course some key issues of the law of international organisations will be highlighted with the help of international judicial decisions. Special attention will be paid to issues such as membership, institutional structure, legal personality, powers, decision-making and decisions as well as privileges and immunities.
Course Objectives
The main objective of this course is to familiarize students with a number of fundamentals of international institutional law – that is the body of rules governing the legal status, structure and functioning of international organizations.
Achievement levels
This course will not be an attempt to study as many individual international organizations as possible. Instead, the course will familiarize students with a number of fundamentals of international institutional law.
Mode of Instruction
The lectures are held on campus, in Leiden. Students are required to prepare for the lectures. The reading prescribed for each class must be done in advance. For each lecture questions have been included in the syllabus to guide the discussion. In addition to the lectures, a few Q & A seminars are scheduled during which students take the lead by asking questions or putting forward issues related to the topic for that meeting. In addition to the regular lectures, guest presentations will be given.
Assessment Method(s)
The course includes three types of assessment: Students will have to prepare one short video and two concise papers expressing a clear opinion. The third assignment is a written exam. Students will be assessed 50% on the basis of their video and two papers, 50% on the basis of the written exam.
Reading List
Henry G. Schermers & Niels M. Blokker, International Institutional Law (6 th ed. 2018)
Other reading materials are indicated in the course syllabus. Most are linked directly to an online source. Where a link is not given, the piece may be found by searching the Leiden University library online catalogue.
Brightspace
Additional reading will be indicated in the course reader and in the electronic learning environment, Brightspace.
Disclaimer
Should there be any future extenuating circumstances which may impinge our teaching and assessment, these could necessitate modification of the course descriptions after 1 September. This will only happen in the event of strict necessity and the interests of the students will be taken into account. Should there be a need for any change during the course, this will be informed to all students on a timely basis. Modifications after 1 September 2024 may only be done with the approval and consent of the Faculty Board and Programme Director.