LW3IGS: International Law and Global Security

Module code: LW3IGS

Module provider: School of Law

Credits: 20

Level: 6

When you’ll be taught: Semester 1

Module convenor: Dr Alex Gilder , email: a.f.gilder@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2025/6

Available to visiting students: Yes

Talis reading list: No

Last updated: 3 April 2025

Overview

Module aims and purpose

This module examines the role and relevance of international law to fundamental questions of global security. Various crucial sub-areas of international law relate to global security concerns. This module will explore a number of these areas in depth, although the exact areas covered may change slightly each year. The core focus of the module, across relevant areas, is the assessment of international law’s ability to respond to global security concerns. The module also gives students the opportunity to engage with the process of a key global security mechanism through a practical assessment on resolving a global security crisis.

This module aims to expose students to a range of perspectives within and beyond international law that engage with questions of global security. It will not only provide a descriptive account of various areas of international law, but also ensure that students are able to analyse and to critique the ability of international law and the broader international system to respond to global security crises. We will consider the role of different actors such as states, regional organisations, NGOs, and corporations, and also discuss issues of national security to wider human security at the local, regional and global levels. Students will develop an understanding of international law’s application to areas of global security in practice. We will examine geographic case studies of contemporary security issues and immerse students in the practicalities of resolving a global security crisis.

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to:

1. Demonstrate a substantive knowledge of a number of sub-areas of international law that engage questions of global security.
2. Debate and critique the relative merits and demerits of these sub-areas of international law, particularly in terms of their ability to respond to global security challenges in specific case studies. 
3. Demonstrate an ability to engage with the processes of the international legal system in the context of a security crisis by providing practical, authentic advice to an international organisation.

Module content

The module will usually cover topics such as the following, although exact topics may vary slightly from year to year:

• Military Interventions
• UN Peace Operations
• Terrorism
• Nuclear Weapons
• International Cyber Law
• UN Human Rights Systems
• UN Accountability
• Disaster Risk Management

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

This module is taught by 22 hours of lectures and associated activities, five 2-hour tutorials, and 8 hours of blended activities.

Study hours

At least 32 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.