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Postgraduate Handbook

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Advanced Issues in International Law - LAWS4081
Law Books

 
Faculty: Faculty of Law
 
 
School:  Faculty of Law
 
 
Course Outline: See below
 
 
Campus: Kensington Campus
 
 
Career: Postgraduate
 
 
Units of Credit: 8
 
 
EFTSL: 0.16667 (more info)
 
 
Indicative Contact Hours per Week: 2
 
 
Enrolment Requirements:
 
 
Prerequisite: Academic Program must be either 9200, 9210, 9230, 9240, 5740, or 5760
 
 
Fee Band: 3 (more info)
 
 
Further Information: See Class Timetable
 
 

Description

Violence between and within States is a persistent feature of human history. International law responds to violence in various ways - by prohibiting it, regulating it, or ignoring it. The purpose of this course is to examine a number of areas in which the international legal order responds to violence, to examine the detailed regulation of those areas in the light of current issues, and to explore how international law legitimates particular forms of violence. This course will examine contemporary issues concerning the changing use of violence in the modern world by States and non-State actors, focusing on the forces affecting these changes, the legal frameworks which both authorise and limit the use of force, and the international legal measures which have been taken in recent years in response to differing forms of violence.

LLM Specialisation

International Law; Human Rights and Social Justice.

Recommended Prior Knowledge

None

Course Objectives

The aims of this course are:
  • To enable students to develop an understanding of the issues involved in the regulation of human affairs beyond a single State
  • To give students an in-depth knowledge of selected international legal issues
  • To develop an awareness of different methods of international as compared to national law in such matters as textual interpretation and working with judicial decisions
  • To evaluate the impact of international law on international affairs, governments and individuals
  • To understand the differences between the development of law in the international system, as opposed to a domestic system

Main Topics

  • Introduction
  • Violence in the world - setting the scene
  • Use of force in international relations - current issues
  • Weapons of mass destruction and proliferation issues
  • Non-State actors, terrorism and weapons of mass destruction
  • Peacekeeping, peace enforcement and peacebuilding
  • Threats from small arms and light weapons
  • Private military contractors
  • Terrorism: some current issues in the international and regional battle against terrorism

Assessment

Option 1
Class participation Preparation and engagement in class 10%
Short assignment 1,500 words 20%
Research essay 5,000 - 6,000 words 70%
Option 2
Class participation Preparation and engagement in class 10%
Research essay 6,000 - 8,000 words 90%
Note: The assessment may change for this course. Refer to Course Outline provided by lecturer at the beginning of session.
 

Course Texts

Prescribed
There is no prescribed textbook or case book. A list of required and suggested reading for the course will be made available closer to the commencement of the course. Please check the course website closer to the start of the course.

Recommended
None

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© The University of New South Wales (CRICOS Provider No.: 00098G), 2004-2011. The information contained in this Handbook is indicative only. While every effort is made to keep this information up-to-date, the University reserves the right to discontinue or vary arrangements, programs and courses at any time without notice and at its discretion. While the University will try to avoid or minimise any inconvenience, changes may also be made to programs, courses and staff after enrolment. The University may also set limits on the number of students in a course.