Introduction to International Law
Study Board of Political Science, Journalism, Sociology, and European Studies
Teaching language: English
EKA: B430000112, B430000122, B430000132
Censorship: Second examiner: None, Second examiner: Internal
Grading: 7-point grading scale, Pass/Fail
Offered in: Odense
Offered in: Autumn
Level: Master
Course ID: B430000101
ECTS value: 10
Date of Approval: 13-03-2018
Duration: 1 semester
Course ID
Course Title
Teaching language
ECTS value
Responsible study board
Date of Approval
Course Responsible
Offered in
Level
Offered in
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Mandatory prerequisites
Recommended prerequisites
Aim and purpose
International law provides the legal framework for states' international relations. The system of international law is a legal system primarily for states, which makes it distinctively different from systems of national law. Thus the system is decentralized in the sense that lawmaking, executive and adjudicative powers are not exercised by any centralized agencies. Furthermore the system is horizontal, since all states are formally equal. On the basis of these fundamental characteristics the aim of the course is to provide students with a firm basis for understanding the intricacies of the international legal system in order to enable them to evaluate legal aspects of international issues.
Content
The course will contain two main elements. Firstly a presentation of the general aspects of the international legal system, such as - characteristics of the system, - the relevant actors, - sources of international law, - rules of interpretation, and - relationship of international law with national legal systems. Secondly the course will introduce the most fundamental rules of international law from a basic division into primary, secondary and tertiary rules. Primary rules, which can be found in treaty law as well as international customary law, contain rights and obligations for states. In particular these rules encompass - The prohibition of the use of force - The prohibition of intervention - Self-determination of peoples - Minority protection - Law of the sea and International crimes. Secondary rules on state responsibility describe the legal consequences of breaches of international law. In addition, international law entails individual responsibility for certain acts which can be prosecuted by domestic as well as international courts. Tertiary rules are procedural rules for dispute resolution, typically in the context of international organizations.
Learning goals
At the end of the course students should be able to - compare the international legal system with national legal systems, and explain the fundamental differences - describe general and specific characteristics of the international legal system - explain the function of specific rules of international law within the international legal system - identify and analyse legal issues of an international character - identify the rules of international law relevant for the solution of international legal issues - interpret and apply international law in the context of concrete international problems - explain and apply the rules of state and individual responsibility for breaches of international law – analyse and compare the role of different sources and actors of international law - assess the strengths and weaknesses of the international legal system, its rules and institutions.
Literature
International Law, Fourth Edition, Malcolm Evans (ed.). Oxford University Press, 2014 (the course will use the newest edition available by August 2018). In addition a number of articles and other readings will be uploaded on the course website on Blackboard. The required readings will in total consist of approximately 800 pages (not including treaties, resolutions and other legal documents). Moreover, students may find it useful to read Antonio Cassese, International law, 2nd edition, Oxford University Press, 2004, or James Crawford, Brownlie’s Principles of International Law, 8th edition, Oxford University Press, 2012. Students are required to read the course material specified in the syllabus prior to the relevant course sessions.
Teaching Method
Lectures and discussion of the material based on active student participation. 3 hours a week in 10 weeks, in total 30 hours. In addition to attending the 10 regular sessions, students are expected to participate in additional activities arranged in connection to the course for a total of 6-7 hours. A description of these activities will be provided in the course plan by the beginning of the semester. The course is taught in English.
Teacher: Martin Mennecke, Department of Law.
Workload
This course grants 10 ECTS. As per university regulations, a 10 ECTS course entails a workload of 270 hours. The following time distribution is an estimate for the average student:
Activity Hours
Classroom sessions 30
Preparation 132,5
Additional activities 7
Written assignment (exam) 60
Oral exam 0.5
Preparation for the oral exam 40
Total 270
Examination regulations
Final exam
Name
Final exam
Timing
Exam: January
Reexam: February
Rules
-3 is not allowed, 00 is not allowed
Tests
Written exam
Name
Written exam
Form of examination
Take-home assignment
Censorship
Second examiner: None
Grading
7-point grading scale
Identification
Student Identification Card - Exam number
Language
English
Duration
Date for submission will appear as part of the examination plan. Students will have several weeks from the end of the regular course sessions to the deadline for the written part of the examination. In this period there is ample time to work on the analysis and research.
Length
Max. 10 numbered pages resulting into a total of max. 24.000 strokes (each page with 2.400 strokes spacing, appendix and notes included, but table of content and bibliography excluded). Assignments exceeding the space limit will be rejected
Examination aids
All exam aids allowed.
Assignment handover
Topic for the final written exam chosen from a list of options provided by the instructor at the end of the classroom sessions
Assignment handin
Via SDU-assignment in the course page in Blackboard. Papers have to state the total number of strokes used on the first page (appendix and notes included, but table of content and bibliography excluded).
ECTS value
4.5
Additional information
The final exam of the course has two elements:
1. Analysis of a current problem in international law based on sources such as a decision by an international court (written, max. 10 pages; see details below under “Extent”). Internal grading.
2. Oral examination with internal co-examiner for 20 minutes (without preparation) based on the required readings.
Both parts are graded separately using the 7-point scale. Each exam must be passed separately. The finale grade is a simple average of the two grades.
Additional information on the written analysis:
Plagiarism rules applying to the written analysis: Plagiarism will not be tolerated and could result in a grade of -3 for the course or expulsion from the University. The written analysis must be submitted to SafeAssign on Blackboard. Students are responsible for familiarizing themselves with the University’s plagiarism policies. See the following links for further information:
http://www.sdu.dk/en/Information_til/Studerende_ved_SDU/Eksamen/snyd.aspx
http://www.sdu.dk/en/Om_SDU/Faellesomraadet/IT-service/Services/antiplagiat
Registration for the course is automatically a registration for the ordinary examination in the course. Cancellation is not possible. If the student does not participate in the examination, the student will use an examination attempt.
The university may grant an exemption from the rules in case of exceptional circumstances.
EKA
B430000112
Oral exam
Name
Oral exam
Form of examination
Oral examination
Censorship
Second examiner: Internal
Grading
7-point grading scale
Identification
Student Identification Card - Exam number
Language
English
Duration
20 minutes
ECTS value
4.5
Additional information
The final exam of the course has two elements.
1. Analysis of a current problem in international law based on sources such as a decision by an international court (written, max. 10 pages; see details below under “Extent”). Internal grading.
2. Oral examination with internal co-examiner for 20 minutes (without preparation) based on the required readings.
Both parts are graded separately using the 7-point scale. Each part of the final exam must be passed separately. The finale grade is a simple average of the two grades.
EKA
B430000122
Mandatory assignment
Name
Mandatory assignment
Timing
During the semester.
Rules
-3 is not allowed
Tests
Mandatory assignment
Name
Mandatory assignment
Form of examination
Compulsory assignment
Censorship
Second examiner: None
Grading
Pass/Fail
Identification
Student Identification Card - Exam number
Language
English
ECTS value
1
Additional information
Mandatory assignment: During the semester, as part of the examination, each student has to make an oral presentation on a relevant, contemporary issue focusing on questions of international law (8-10 minutes) in front of an instructor; as exception, students, who are not able to attend the course in person, can, upon approval by the teacher, submit a written presentation about a relevant, contemporary issue focusing on questions of international law (5 pages). This part of the examination is graded as “passed” or “failed”.
Students whose oral or written presentation were graded as “failed” have two additional attempts for passing this part of the examination. They will have to make another, improved oral presentation or submit another, improved written presentation. The dates for all presentations will be determined by the teacher.
EKA
B430000132
External comment
NOTE - This course is identical with the former course 9356201, Introduction to International Law.
Used examination attempts in the former identical course will be transferred.
Courses that are identical with former courses that are passed according to applied rules cannot be retaken.
The student is automatically registered for the first examination attempt when the student is registered for a course or course element with which one or more examinations are associated. Withdrawal of registration is not possible, and students who fail to participate in an examination have used one examination attempt, unless the University has made an exemption due to special circumstances.
If a student does not meet the established university prerequisites for taking the exam, he or she has used one examination attempt, unless the University has made an exemption due to special circumstances.
Courses offered
| Offer period | Offer type | Profile | Education | Semester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall 2018 | Mandatory | Master in International Security and Law - valid from September 2018 | Master of International Security and Law | Master of Science (MSc) in International Security and Law | Odense | 1 |
| Fall 2018 | Mandatory | Master in International Security and Law - valid from September 2017 | Master of International Security and Law | Master of Science (MSc) in International Security and Law | Odense | 1 |