JJUA04080U Public International Law

Public International Law has been defined as that body of law which regulates nation States and which States feel bound to observe. It also seeks to order human affairs at the international level. As developments in technology and travel continue to shrink the distance between States, issues of International Law become increasingly important. The course lays the foundation for an understanding of this system of law, how it works and its relationship with domestic law. It will challenge students to critically analyse the international legal system and suggest ways in which the rules and principles can and should develop in the future in order to accommodate the changing needs and values of the international community of nations. As well as discussing the theoretical background to established and emerging principles of International Law, the course looks at its practical application by analysing leading cases and considering how International Law impacts upon and is highly relevant to virtually all important events in contemporary international relations.
On successful completion of the subject, students will have a basic understanding of Public International Law, including its relationship with international relations, international politics and the development of multilateral cooperation to address problems and issues of global concern.
The Course aims to:

• assist students to develop an understanding of the issues involved in the regulation of human affairs beyond a single State
• give them a basic working knowledge of the structure of the international legal system and its relationship to domestic legal systems
• develop an awareness of differences between international and national law
• understand the relevance of International Law principles to contemporary international affairs

International Law covers a wide breadth of issues and the following subject areas will be addressed in the readings and in class discussions:
1.The Nature and Development of International Law
2.The Structure of the International Legal System
3.The Sources of International Law
4.The Law of Treaties
5.International and Municipal Law
6.Personality, Statehood and Recognition
7.Title to Territory
8.State Jurisdiction
9.Immunity from Jurisdiction
10.State Responsibility
11.Legal Regulation of the Use of Force by States