LAW8146 : Foundations of Public International Law
- Offered for Year: 2022/23
- Module Leader(s): Dr Elena Katselli
- Lecturer: Dr Elliot Winter
- Owning School: Newcastle Law School
- Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
Semesters
| Semester 1 Credit Value: | 20 |
| ECTS Credits: | 10.0 |
Aims
The aims and objectives of this module can be outlined as following:
- To equip students with comprehensive knowledge on the nature and function of the international legal order and the principles upon which it is founded;
- To enable student understanding on the inter-relationship between the international and national legal orders;
- To advance student understanding on the mechanisms of international norm creation and the subjects of international law;
- To enable students to reflect critically on the strengths and weaknesses of the international legal system;
- To familiarise students with the secondary norms that are generated as soon as primary norms of international law are breached;
- To examine the mechanisms under the United Nations for safeguarding international peace and security and for the peaceful resolution of international disputes;
- To provide an in-depth understanding of selected substantive issues such as the circumstances under which states can resort to the use of armed force.
Outline Of Syllabus
- History, Nature and Function of International Law and its Relation with National Law
- Sources of International Law
- Law of Treaties
- The Subjects of International Law / Recognition
- Secession / Self-determination
- International Responsibility of States and Enforcement of International Law
- Jurisdiction and Immunities from Jurisdiction
- The United Nations System and International Dispute Settlement Procedures: The UN System
- The United Nations System and International Dispute Settlement Procedures: International Court of Justice
- Use of Force and the Law of Armed Conflict: Security Council and self-defence
- Humanitarian intervention
- International Human Rights
Teaching Methods
Teaching Activities
| Category | Activity | Number | Length | Student Hours | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 60 | 1:00 | 60:00 | Combination of own reading and revision of substantive module content, with directed reading |
| Structured Guided Learning | Lecture materials | 4 | 1:00 | 4:00 | Pre-recorded lecture content including introduction, feed-forward and feeback |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Small group teaching | 12 | 2:00 | 24:00 | Synchronous/non-synchronous seminars |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Drop-in/surgery | 5 | 1:00 | 5:00 | Synchronous drop-in surgeries |
| Guided Independent Study | Independent study | 107 | 1:00 | 107:00 | Combination of own reading and revision of substantive module content, with directed reading |
| Total | 200:00 |
Teaching Rationale And Relationship
The seminars will be interactive and will require advance preparation on identified issues. This method of teaching is appropriate at post-graduate level where students are called to engage in in-depth critical engagement on identified issues. Seminars provide an opportunity to strengthen student understanding of key issues through discussion and active student engagement through advanced reading and preparation on selected issues.
Following on from individual seminars, students will work in small groups (on a rota basis) to synthesise their seminar notes into summaries which will be uploaded to Canvas. This will allow the students in the group to develop their teamwork, organisation and ‘writing for an audience’ skills. It will also ensure that a record of what was discussed in the seminar is available to any students who were unable to attend.
The drop-in surgeries will provide further opportunity for clarifying/solidifying understanding. These surgeries will enable students to raise any concerns as well as seek clarification on issues relating to the module.
Assessment Methods
The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners
Exams
| Description | Length | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Written Examination | 135 | 1 | A | 67 | 3 out of 6 questions |
Other Assessment
| Description | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Essay | 1 | M | 33 | 2000 words |
Assessment Rationale And Relationship
The exam provides an opportunity to develop student critical analytical and problem-solving skills in a focused manner on a wider range of topics. The essay provides an opportunity to develop student independent research skills and in-depth critical evaluation. Students need to demonstrate a well-rounded understanding of relevant debates on set topic and advance legal arguments in a clear and coherent way.
Alternative assessment for exam: if the exam cannot take place due to public health circumstances, it will be replaced with a 24 hour take home exam.
Reading Lists
Timetable
- Timetable Website: www.ncl.ac.uk/timetable/
- LAW8146's Timetable