International Law (2025/2026: Semester 2 – Spring)

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Cursusdoel

After completing this course students are able to:
  1. Define specific characteristics of international law.
  2. Apply basic skills of research, analysis, and argumentation within an international legal context.
  3. Identify issues of international law and analyze their implications for international relations and their impact on the daily lives of individuals.
  4. Argue an international law case in the written and oral context of a moot court
Relationship between assessment and learning goals:

Assessment A – Written test: This tests your understanding of core legal theory, and independent legal reasoning skills (learning objectives 1, 2 & 3).
Assessment B – Moot Court memorial: This tests your ability to distill core legal issues within a contentious dispute and argue an international law case in a written context (objectives 1, 2 & 4).
Assessment C – Moot Court pleadings: This tests your ability to argue an international law case in an oral context (learning objectives 2 & 4).
Assessment D – Participation: This assesses your preparation for and engagement in the course seminars, in which the core legal theory and skills are practiced together (learning objectives 1, 2 & 3).

Vakinhoudelijk

The first part of this course focuses on law formation and law enforcement at the international level. It provides students with basic knowledge of the main legal principles that govern international relations, as well as some insight into the theoretical framework of the international legal order. Topics include: the legal character of international law and its role and limitations in the conduct of foreign policy, the principal sources of legal obligation at the international level (treaties, custom and general principles, decisions of international organizations, courts, etc.), participants in the international legal system, sovereignty and the State, the United Nations, conflict regulation, the rules governing the use of force and the law of armed conflict, and tribunals and the prosecution of offenders.
The second part of the course concentrates on applying the rules and principles contained in this theoretical framework to an actual case or situation through a moot court that simulates an international court or tribunal. Students divide into teams to research, prepare, and deliver legal arguments relating to a case based upon real events. This provides students with a better understanding of the relationship between the principles and practices used in legal discourse.

Format
The first part of this course provides a theoretical framework for further study. Lectures introduce main principles, and seminars are meant for discussion and the analysis of relevant treaties, state practice, and case law. Students’ knowledge is tested with a midterm exam. The second part of the course is devoted to the preparation and presentation of moot court simulations and comprises the remaining six weeks of the semester. The instructor ‘coaches’ the teams after they have completed the necessary research. The teams prepare written arguments in the form of a memorial or brief and present their arguments orally in a simulated courtroom environment. During the final week, proceedings are completed and participants receive feedback on their performance.

Werkvormen

UCU ssc 2 course

Toetsing

participation

Verplicht | Weging 10% | ECTS 0,75

written test

Verplicht | Weging 40% | ECTS 3

Moot court memorial

Verplicht | Weging 30% | ECTS 2,25

Moot court pleading

Verplicht | Weging 20% | ECTS 1,5

*midterm FEEDBACK*

Niet verplicht

Ingangseisen en voorkennis

Ingangseisen

Er moet voldaan zijn aan minimaal één van de cursussen:

Voorkennis

Er is geen informatie over benodigde voorkennis bekend.

Voertalen

  • Engels

Cursusmomenten

Gerelateerde studies

Tentamens

Er is geen tentamenrooster beschikbaar voor deze cursus

Verplicht materiaal

  • READER
    Materials provided through Blackboard
  • BOEK
    International Law, by Anders Henriksen (2021, OUP 3rd edition). Earlier editions are allowed.
  • BOEK
    Elementary International Law 2019 – TMC Asser Press

Aanbevolen materiaal

Er is geen informatie over de aanbevolen literatuur bekend

Coördinator

dr. D.I. Odier-Contreras Garduno d.i.odier-contrerasgarduno@uu.nl

Docenten

dr. B.A. Böök LLM B.A.Book@uu.nl
dr. mr. F.C. van Leeuwen F.C.vanLeeuwen@uu.nl

Inschrijving

Let op: deze cursus is niet toegankelijk voor studenten van andere faculteiten, bijvakkers mogen zich dus niet inschrijven.

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