Module Catalogue 2025/26

Pre Requisite Comment

N/A

Co Requisite Comment

N/A

Aims

This module aims:

• to provide in-depth understanding of the nature of the legal relations among States
• to critically assess highly controversial legal concepts such as the idea of “international community” and the existence of “collective interests”
• to provide comprehensive understanding of the roots and causes of complex legal phenomena, such as the fragmentation of international law, and to consider alternative solutions
• to examine the role of human rights in the development of foreign affairs
• to critically consider the lawfulness of nuclear weapons
• to assess the role of the United Nations and its mechanisms for dispute resolution
• to examine in depth the lawfulness of humanitarian intervention, the limits of self-defence, the scope and content of aggression by extensive reference to State practice


This module will be of interest to those who wish to pursue a career as legal or policy advisors in international organisations and bodies such as the United Nations and the European Union, non-governmental organisations, the public sector such as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Justice or Defence, diplomatic corps and law firms.

Outline Of Syllabus

• The concept of international community in international law: peremptory norms and obligations owed to the international community of States as a whole
• Fragmentation of contemporary international law: proliferation of international organisations such as the World Trade Organisation, the European Union, the European Court of Justice with parallel jurisdictions
• Human Rights and Foreign Affairs
• Humanitarian intervention
• Lawfulness of the Use of Nuclear Weapons by States
• The Role of the United Nations and the Security Council in international dispute resolution
• Responsibility to protect

Intended Knowledge Outcomes

By the end of the module students will be able to demonstrate comprehensive knowledge and understanding of

• the nature of State relations
• controversial concepts such as the “international community” and “collective interests”
• complex phenomena such as the fragmentation of international law in an increasingly inter-dependent world
• the influential role of human rights ideas in formulating foreign policy
• the role of the United Nations and the Security Council in international dispute settlement
• State practice and the law in relation to humanitarian intervention, aggression and self-defence

Intended Skill Outcomes

This module has the following intended skills outcomes

• to develop students’ critical analysis skills regarding the legal limits of State sovereignty;
• to strengthen students’ ability to deal with contemporary challenges of an international legal nature and to formulate well-substantiated arguments and opinions in relation to complex issues such as the use of nuclear weapons, aggression and the so-called fragmentation of international law;
• to enhance students’ problem-solving skills concerning contemporary and complex international disputes;
• to enable students to actively engage into the various debates by reference to academic commentary, international judgments, State practice and international rules;
• to enable students to write and speak with clarity and precision;
• to develop students’ ability for constructive legal thinking and analysis;
• to encourage independent and original research through the use of primary and secondary sources.

Teaching Rationale And Relationship

The seminars will be interactive and will require advance preparation. The rationale for this teaching method is to promote analytical, argumentative and critical skills essential for discourse. The learning methods will rely on directed self study for the contact teaching time and independent study for the preparation of assessed coursework which will bring together the knowledge, cognitive, research and the assessed key skills.

Assessment Rationale And Relationship

The use of an examination provides an opportunity to demonstrate understanding and writing skills. It allows candidates to demonstrate intended learning outcomes across a broad range of topics within the syllabus.

General Notes

N/A