LAW 9500 - International Law

This course provides a general introduction to international law and to the principal current concerns in this field. It will examine the principal doctrinal approaches, the main methodologies used to identify the law, and the institutional arrangements that have evolved. In particular, consideration is given to the sources of international law with particular emphasis on the role of custom and treaty law, the key actors in relation to the international legal process, and the notion of state responsibility for breaches. Specific topics will normally include: the use of force, human rights; the act of state doctrine; international dispute resolution; the relationship between international and domestic courts with particular reference to the U.S., the role of judicial remedies and the place of the International Court of Justice and other principal international tribunals; and the role of international organizations including the United Nations. Credit(s): 3