Course Resources Archive

This module will cover public international law and its progress from a set of principles to a constituent part of English Law, concentrating on essential principles of the public international legal system including the infrastructure of the public international system, sources of international law, the role of international law in the national arena, legal subjects on the public international sphere, international human rights framework and standards, international criminal law institutions and substantive rights.

Introduction to public international law including its historical development; sources of international law; how international law operates on the national sphere; the actors in the international arena and  recognition of states; sovereignty over territory; jurisdictional sovereignty; immunity from national jurisdiction; international human rights law; international criminal law.

i. Knowledge and Understanding

By the end of the module, students should be able to:

a) Demonstrate a comprehensive and accurate knowledge and understanding of the fundamental principles of public international law, and an understanding of those aspects of public law identified in the content summary above.

b) Demonstrate a sound knowledge and critical understanding of areas of uncertainty in public international law, and of areas of development and/or reform in relation to public international law.

c) Demonstrate a sound knowledge and critical understanding of how cultural, political, and economic considerations have influenced the formulation and development of public international law

d) Demonstrate a sound knowledge and critical understanding of the enforcement mechanisms available in public international law.

ii. Skills By the end of the module students should have developed skills in:

a) Application and problem solving

Able to apply the legal principles studied to a range of international law problems of significant legal complexity, and where appropriate generate alternative solutions to the problem.

b) Sources and research

Able to define issues for research, identify sources and establish a strategy for research

c) Analysis, evaluation, critical judgement and synthesis

Able to analyse problems of significant legal complexity in the area of public international law to identify the legal principles to be applied in order to generate solutions.

Able to critically evaluate the efficacy of public international law in general.

Able to form a reasoned critical judgment on areas of difficulty or uncertainty in the area of public international law (e.g. the effectiveness of international law) or on proposed areas of law reform.

d) Autonomy and ability to learn

Able to demonstrate a capacity for self-directed study

e) Communication and literacy

Able to write complex prose accurately and fluently, and to speak clearly and fluently when communicating complex ideas.

Able to use legal terminology correctly.

f) Other key skills

IT — able to use electronic sources for research and to present an accurately word processed text

Team working — able to work in a group as a participant who contributes effectively to the group’s task

Staff/student contact: 25%
Student independent study: 75%

The Library Catalogue contains full details of the current reading list for this module. Further details may also be found in the Module Guide.