LW218-5-AU-CO:
Introduction to Public International Law
2021/22
Essex Law School
Colchester Campus
Autumn
Undergraduate: Level 5
Current
Thursday 07 October 2021
Friday 17 December 2021
15
15 November 2021
Requisites for this module
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)
LW219, LW356
International law and international organisations seem to be under attack as never before –whether it is the US withdrawing funds from the World Health Organization or Russia annexing Crimea from Ukraine or Brazil burning the Amazonian rainforest or Myanmar committing acts of genocide against the Rohingya Muslim minority. This module provides an introduction to public international law and its institutions (like the United Nations and International Court of Justice) in these challenging times.
The first part of the module examines the theories and sources of international law while the second half looks at key aspects of international law, including: statehood and self-determination, state responsibility for wrongful acts, and immunities of state officials and diplomatic staff.
Throughout the module, we will consider examples of how international law plays out in the real world.
The aims of the module are:
1. To understand the sources of public international law; customary international law, treaty law, general principles and judicial decisions
2. To analyse the principles, institutions, and processes of public international law, as well as recent developments
3. To develop the critical reasoning, analytical writing and oral argumentation skills appropriate to this specific branch of law
By the end of the module students will be able to:
1. Critically analyse the sources and system of public international law, including multilateralism
2. Evaluate the rules governing state responsibility, acquisition of statehood, jurisdiction and immunities
3. Apply the relevant principles and rules of public international law to specific cases
Indicative syllabus:
1. Introduction to the United Nations and international law system
2. Theories of international law
3. Sources of international law: customary international law and general principles 4. Sources of international law: treaties and judicial decisions
5. Subjects of international law
6. Statehoodand state recognition
7. State responsibility
8. International responsibility of international organisations
9. Jurisdiction
10. Sovereign and diplomatic immunity
This module is taught through a mixture of pre-recorded lectures and 10 weekly 50-minute small group tutorials. Each week before your tutorials, the module teaching team will make available on Moodle two or more pre-recorded video lectures that they have prepared and produced. In total, the duration of each week's video lectures will be approximately 50 minutes. In most teaching weeks, you will be expected to have watched these lectures before the tutorials, although some of these lectures may be designed to be watched after the tutorials to recap on material discussed there.
The module teaching team will also produce and make available on Moodle short guidance notes. These notes will introduce the material to be covered in the lectures, webinars and required readings. The notes will also contain tips designed both to help you navigate the material to be covered in the lectures and webinars and to equip you to analyse the required readings.
You will be expected to have completed the required readings in advance of your tutorials. Your tutorials will enable you to discuss the material covered in lectures, webinars and the required readings, obtain feedback on your pre-class preparation and deepen your understanding of key concepts.
To help you prepare in the best possible way for your tutorials, you will be completing regular Multiple-Choice Quizzes on Moodle. The quizzes will be based on the reading set for that week so that the quiz forms part of your preparation for each tutorial. The quizzes will enable you to track your progress, understand what you are doing well, and give you clear feedback to help you manage your studies and your progress.
This module does not appear to have a published bibliography for this year.
Assessment items, weightings and deadlines
| Coursework / exam |
Description |
Deadline |
Coursework weighting |
| Practical |
Multiple Choice Quizzes |
|
100% |
| Exam |
Main exam: 24hr during January
|
Additional coursework information
80% Exam (or take-home exam)
20% Multiple-Choice Quizzes
Exam format definitions
- Remote, open book: Your exam will take place remotely via an online learning platform. You may refer to any physical or electronic materials during the exam.
- In-person, open book: Your exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer to any physical materials such as paper study notes or a textbook during the exam. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, open book (restricted): The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer only to specific physical materials such as a named textbook during the exam. Permitted materials will be specified by your department. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, closed book: The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may not refer to any physical materials or electronic devices during the exam. There may be times when a paper dictionary,
for example, may be permitted in an otherwise closed book exam. Any exceptions will be specified by your department.
Your department will provide further guidance before your exams.
Overall assessment
Reassessment
Module supervisor and teaching staff
Dr Antonio Coco, email: antonio.coco@essex.ac.uk.
Dr Antonio Coco, Prof. Karen Hulme, Dr Meagan Wong
Law UG Education Administrators: lawschoolug@essex.ac.uk
Yes
Yes
Yes
Dr Christopher Lloyd
Oxford Brookes University
Senior Lecturer
Available via Moodle
Of 32 hours, 12 (37.5%) hours available to students:
0 hours not recorded due to service coverage or fault;
20 hours not recorded due to opt-out by lecturer(s), module, or event type.
Essex Law School
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