Please note that the following description of the course is only provisional and therefore subject to change.
Admission requirements
Background in law
Sufficient command of English (IELTS 6.5 or higher)
Due to its introductory nature, the course is not aimed at students who already have a background in Public International Law.
Description
The course aims at providing (international) students with a basic knowledge of the various aspects of Public International Law. These topics include, among others, sources of international law; subjects of international law; state responsibility; jurisdiction and immunities; international adjudication; and the use of force.
This introductory course will provide students with enough knowledge to enable them to participate actively in other, more specialized courses on Public International Law. The course is designed for exchange and Study Abroad students.
Course objectives
Objectives of the course
The aim of the course is to teach you the basic features of public international law and the international legal order and the meaning of public international law for legal practice. This course provides student with a sufficient basis to participate more specialized courses in public international law, such as Basics of International Humanitarian Law.
The following topics will be studied during this course:
Introduction; sources; subjects
The law of treaties and the law of state responsibility
The law of peace and security
Jurisdiction and immunities
International economic law
Achievement levels
The following achievement levels apply with regard to the course:
The nature of public international law and the development and characteristics of the international legal order.
The relationship between public international law and domestic law.
The sources of public international law.
The subjects of public international law or the participants in the international legal order.
The history, purposes, responsibilities and functioning of the United Nations.
The rules of public international law in relation to treaties.
The rules of public international law in relation to responsibility for wrongful acts.
The rules of public international law in relation to dispute settlement.
The rules of public international law in relation to the use of force in international relations and the responsibilities of the United Nations and other organizations with respect to the maintenance of international peace and security.
The scope of the jurisdiction of states and the limits to the jurisdiction of states as recognized in public international law.
The development of international economic law and the protection of the environment.
Further you will learn the following skills in this course:
You will be able to identify and analyze the sources of public international law.
You will be able to analyze international documents, resolutions and treaties and you will be able to assess to what extent these documents contain binding rules of public international law.
You will be able to read, analyze, explain and use judgments of international courts.
You will be able to answer in writing and in a structure way questions about the theory and practice of international law with reference to relevant rules of public international law and authority in case law and literature.
You will be able to analyze, solve or plead a short case by reference to relevant rules of public international law.
Timetable
The timetable of this course can be found in uSis and on Blackboard.
Mode of instruction
Lectures
Number of (2 hour) lectures: 5 lectures during 5 weeks
Names of lecturers: Ms. Andrea Varga and guest lecturers
Required preparation by students: Study the assigned literature from the textbook and the prescribed case law in light of the relevant (and prescribed) treaty texts and documents.
Seminars
Number of (2 hour) seminars: 5 working groups during 5 weeks
Names of instructors: Ms. Andrea Varga and guest lecturers
Required preparation by students: Study the assigned literature from the textbook and the prescribed case law in light of the relevant (and prescribed) treaty texts and documents.
Other methods of instruction
Description: not applicable.
Number of (2 hour) instructions: not applicable.
Names of instructors: not applicable.
Required preparation by students:
Assessment method
Examination form(s)
- Written exam and optional papers.
Submission procedures
The optional papers have to be submitted on Blackboard before the beginning of the first working group of the week, and a hardcopy must be submitted in the working group.
Areas to be tested within the exam
The examination syllabus consists of the required reading (literature) for the course, the course information guide and the subjects taught in the lectures, the seminars and all other instructions which are part of the course.
Blackboard
More information on this course is offered in Blackboard.
Reading list
Obligatory course materials
Literature:
J. Klabbers, International Law, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 2013
Elementair Internationaal Recht / Elementary International Law 2013 (TMC Asser Press, 2013).
Course information guide:
- Course information and course outline provided on Blackboard.
Reader:
- To be announced in due time.
Recommended course materials
- Further materials may be recommended on Blackboard as the course progresses.
Registration
Students have to register for courses and exams through uSis.
Contact information
Co-ordinator: to be announced
Work address:
Contact information: By appointment through email
Contact person: Ms. Esther Uiterweerd (secretary)
Telephone number: +31 (0)71 527 7578
Institution/division
Institute: Public Law
Department: Public International Law
Room number secretariat: KOG, room B1.21
Opening hours: Monday to Friday 9:00-17:00
Telephone number secretariat: +31 (0)71 527 7578
Remarks
This course is designed for exchange and Study Abroad students and is offered in a concise manner so that students can participate in the whole course. The course is open up to a maximum of 50 students.
Due to its introductory and general character, it is not possible to acquire more credits for the course by writing an additional paper.