00230 - International Law

Learning outcomes

The course introduces to the study of international law

Course contents

The course is in two parts. The first part introduces to the salient features of international law, emphasizing from the very outset the poly-systemic nature of the international legal order, as it is played out at the level of sources, subjects, adjudication and law enforcement. Special attention is devoted to the concept of obligations erga omnes and to the means of law enforcement (sanctions) supplied either by general international law or by special regimes or subsystems. The second part traces a historical profile of contemporary international law understood as an academic discipline and political project (from the second half of the 19th century) and offers a panorama of the main approaches and methods coexisting today within the field.

Readings/Bibliography

A. Tanzi, Introduzione al diritto internazionale contemporaneo, CEDAM, Padova, 4a ed., 2013, as compulsory reading. On top of this, students are required to choose between options A) and B)

A) P. Picone, Comunità internazionale e obblighi "erga omnes". Scritti ciritici di diritto internazionale, Jovene, Napoli, 3a ed., 2013, pp. 207-515 ("use of force" track: ch. 3-8) or pp. 1-127, 517-721 ("international responsibility" track: ch. 1, 9-13). For students who get 6 or 7 Credits: pp. 207-272, 323-515 ("use of force" track: ch. 3, 6-8) or pp. 517-721 ("international responsibility" track: ch. 9-13)

B) M. Koskenniemi, Il mite civilizzatore delle nazioni. Ascesa e caduta del diritto internazionale 1870-1960, Laterza, Roma-Bari 2012, pp. 1-122 (Introduction and ch. 1), pp. 626-634 (Epilogue), and two supplementary chapters of their choice. For students who get 6 or 7 Credits: one supplementary chapter only. Please note that the book is available in English

Teaching methods

Lectures

Assessment methods

Final examination is exclusively oral and aims at verifying the student's acquaintance with the fundamental notions of international law

Office hours

See the website of Lorenzo Gradoni