LW2FIL-Foundations of International Law

Module Provider: School of Law
Number of credits: 20 [10 ECTS credits]
Level:5
Terms in which taught: Autumn / Spring term module
Pre-requisites:
Non-modular pre-requisites:
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded:
Current from: 2022/3

Module Convenor: Dr Alex Gilder
Email: a.f.gilder@reading.ac.uk

Type of module:

Summary module description:

This module is designed to introduce students to international law and the international legal system. It teaches the key foundational aspects of that system, such as the way in which international law is created (with a particular focus on treaties and customary international law), the subjects of the international legal system (the states of the world, but also international organisations, individuals and others), international dispute settlement mechanisms, how states are found responsible for breaches of international law,Ìýand gives critical appraisals of the global system.

Aims:

The module aims to expose students to the foundational ‘building blocks’ of international law and develop student’s ability to critically assess the legal system. This module will elaborate upon how international law is formed and who it applies to. You will learn about the relationships between states, individuals, organisations, and other actors in the international system. You will also be challenged to think about international law critically and assess its development and its effectiveness using perspectives from the Global South, feminist perspectives and different political points of view. The module addresses both the practical and theoretical aspects of public international law and consequently considers how the public international law framework applies to contemporary situations.

The module provides a starting point to give students core knowledge applicable to more specialised optional Part F modules in international law and to underpin the work on later international law projects, such as a dissertation in the subject.Ìý However, it also aim to acts to provide a holistic account of the core features of international law if taken in isolation.

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Assessable learning outcomes:

On completion of the module, students will be expected to be able to:

• Demonstrate a substantive knowledge of the foundational aspects of international law and how it functions.


• Debate and critique the relative merits and demerits of the international legal system and the processes of international law.


• Demonstrate the ability to critically analyse aspects of public international law using a broad range of sources including treaties, customary law, case law, leading theorists and academic commentators.

Additional outcomes:

Those skills listed in the School of Law's ‘Core Skills Statement’.

Outline content:

The module will usually cover topics such as:

• Introducing International Law and the International Legal System


• The Sources of International Law


• The Subjects of International Law


• State Responsibility


• Jurisdiction


• The Peaceful Settlement of International Disputes


• Critical Approaches to International Law


• The Politics of International Law

Global context:

The field of international law necessarily is entirely about the global context.ÌýThis module engages law and a legal system that applies to society globally.

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:

The module will be taught by way of 18 hours of lectures (in 1 hour or 2 hour blocks), spread across the Autumn and Spring Terms.ÌýThe lectures will be interspersed with 6 x 2 hour seminars (three in each term), for which students are expected to prepare by undertaking specific readings and preparing questions for discussion.