87420 - International Law (A-L)

Learning outcomes

The course gives an overview of the current structure of the international community and the international legal system, dedicating a particular attention to some specific issues as the norms regulating the use of force. At the end of the course, the students expected to have the basic knowledge and tools to analyse the most significant events which occur within the international community from the legal point of view.

Course contents

The course is organized in lectures and seminars, as detailed in the following programme. Lectures (26 hours held remotely on MS TEAMS) aim to introduce students to the core tenets of the discipline. Seminars aim to provide room for in-depth discussions of class materials and exercises. The division into lessons and seminars is specified in the programme below. For the seminar section, students will be divided into 4 groups according to their preferences and according to rules concerning the current pandemic emergency: two groups will attend the seminar in classroom (12 hours each) and two groups will follow the seminar remotely on MS TEAMS (12 hours each). Therefore, a total of 38 classroom hours are scheduled for each student. Students are required to carefully read the assigned material before each session and - in the case of seminars - active participation through presentations of existing scholarship and case studies might be expected. Regardless of the health-related conditions and the specific organization of the course, students will be able to attend all lessons of the course remotely on MS TEAMS.

A) General part (Lectures taught remotely via MS TEAMS)

The general part aims to provide basic knowledge about the life of the international community from the legal point of view.

1. Historical evolution and current features of the international legal system

2. The subjects of the international legal system.

3. The sources: customary law, treaties, sources issued by specific agreements.

4. The application of international norms within a country.

5. The limitations to the ruling power of countries.

6. The violation of international provisions and its consequences.

7. International disputes settlement.

B) Special part (Seminar section)

The special part will focus on the evolution of the prohibition of the use of force.

Readings/Bibliography

For the general part:

- A. Tanzi, Introduzione al diritto internazionale contemporaneo, 2019 (further details will be given at the beginning of the course).

For the special part:

- N. Ronzitti, Diritto internazionale dei conflitti armati, Torino, 2017 or C. Henderson, The Use of Force and International Law, CUP, 2018.

For both the parts, the use of a Code of International Law and International Organisations is recommended.

Further documents and texts will be indicated at the beginning of the seminar section.

Teaching methods

Traditional teaching and analysis of the relevant case law.

Assessment methods

The assessment of the course is carried out through three written tests, all carried out remotely during the Term, plus a final oral examination.

The first test is made up of 40 multiple choice questions (0.75 points for each correct answer). This test aims at assessing the capacity to learn basic contents of International Law. The second test includes three open questions, each answer being awarded with 10 points maximum. Both analytical skills and written form of presentation of arguments will be assessed. The third test involves the student in the analysis of a simulated case of violation of International Law (awarded with 30 points maximum). This test aims at assessing the students' capacity to identify legal issues arising from the case-study and their ability to provide coherent and logic answers on the basis of the insights gained during the seminars.

The oral examination aims at assessing the students' preparation about the general knowledge previously acquired. The oral assessment will be evaluated with a maximum mark of 30 points. In particular, the students' capacity to apply and connect the insights gained also through their individual study will be assessed. The achievement of the final mark is determined by the award of the sufficient mark in each written test and in the oral examination (at least 18 points, on a 30 scale). The final mark will be the average of the all marks obtained during the mentioned examination.

Students who have succeeded at least one of the written tests can move directly to the oral examination. At the oral examination, if they wish so, students have the possibility to be assessed again on the program related to the failed or not taken tests (that is two up three written tests at most). Students that do not pass any written test, or do not have any sufficient mark in the three tests, cannot be directly examined orally. They will have to pass a written test dealing with the general part of the course. The written test is made up of 15 multiple choice questions and will be held on the same day of the oral discussion. In order to get the mark and be admitted to the oral exam, students have to answer correctly at least to 11 questions. For these students, the oral examination will focus on the whole course content, both the general and the special part.

During the summer exam session (June-July) students can choose only one exam date out of the three dates provided. If they fail the exam or do not accept the mark, they can try again in September (one exam date). Otherwise, they will have to wait until the following summer exam session. Two exam dates are scheduled in the January-February session (for students who are enrolled from more than 3 years).

Teaching tools

Teaching tools will be indicated during the course.

Office hours

See the website of Carmelo Danisi