LWMCIL-Contemporary Issues in International Law

Module Provider: School of Law
Number of credits: 20 [10 ECTS credits]
Level:7
Terms in which taught: Spring term module
Pre-requisites:
Non-modular pre-requisites: Students must be registered on the LLM Advanced Legal Studies, LLM International Law, or LLM Human Rights, or on another LLM programme with permission of the Director of Postgraduate Taught Programmes. Permission will generally be granted to students who have some background study or experience in international law or politics. Permission may be granted to other students.
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:

Contemporary Issues in International Law will enable students to investigate both macro-level issues of how the international legal system addresses crises such as insecurity or climate change and micro-level practical case studies where students are able to appreciate international law in action. Not focusing on specific branches of international law, the content on this module evolves year on year to cover contemporary ‘flashpoints’ and reflect teaching staff expertise. Topics could include a range of issues such as insecurity, cyberspace, global health, sustainable development, and transitional justice. The module will offer interdisciplinary perspectives, key case studies that are relevant to current global challenges, and coverage of the contemporary ‘big questions’ in international law.

Aims:

Contemporary Issues in International Law offers students the opportunity to examine a number of key areas where international law is being challenged by - or is adapting in an attempt to meet the challenges of - the modern world. The module aims to convey substantive and theoretical understandings of the aspects of international law covered. At the same time, students are encouraged to interact with highly political questions on a legal level and question not just what the law is, but what the law should be, with regard to the controversial ‘flashpoints’ studied. The aim is to increase students’ awareness of the challenges that face the implementation of international law as well as concerns from outside the discipline. Students will benefit from both interdisciplinary perspectives and case studies of how international law, and the relevant political machinery, operates in practice. This module is intended to complement LWMIIA (Introduction to International Law).

Assessable learning outcomes:

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

• Demonstrate both a substantive and a theoretical understanding of the aspects of international law covered


• Identify the legal context and framework of the contemporary issues covered


• Analyse contemporary questions of international relations and politics by using tools of legal research developed in the preparation of seminars, written assignment and class discussion

Additional outcomes:

In addition to those listed in the School’s "core skills statement", the module will encourage the development of:

• High-level oral communication skills through reflective, analytical class-discussion


• High-level writing skills through close and critical analysis of both primary and secondary source material


• An ability to apply theoretical and contextual knowledge to practical problems that face people working in the field

Outline content:

The module provides an in-depth exposition of ten topics which traditionally are not examined in detail in core international law modules, but which are all crucial issues at the current time. Teaching staff will provide unique perspectives on issues of global concern. Topics may include macro-level discussions of how the international legal system addresses issues such as insecurity or climate change and micro-level practical case studies where students are able to appreciate international in action. Topics may include: the place of human security in the international legal system, international law’s responses to cyberspace, the maintenance of international peace and security by the UN, case studies on transitional justice in practice, the role of international law in global health, internal and cross-border displacement, fundamental rights and the