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International Law and the Use of Force - LAWS4087
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: 1 (more info)
 
 
Further Information: See Class Timetable
 
 

Description

All organised societies face the problem of controlling, by law, the use of force. International society is no exception. In fact, the control of the use of force in the international arena has proved to be one of the most intractable problems in international law. This course will examine the international law on the use of force, the jus ad bellum. It will introduce students to the laws relating to the prohibition of the use of force and discuss their exceptions, both agreed and controversial. Course participants will examine the law and practice relating to United Nations enforcement and peacekeeping action, including the changing nature and role of UN security actions in the post-Cold War era. The course will pay particular attention to the development of unilateral security actions such as the war in Iraq (2003) and discuss other recent developments such as the legality of the doctrine of pre-emptive force.

LLM Specialisations

International Law; Human Rights and Social Justice.

Recommended Prior Knowledge

None, but LAWS4080 Principles of International Law or equivalent is a recommended pre- or co-requisite.

Course Objectives

  • To provide students with an understanding of the historical development of the characterisation of the use of force as unlawful and of the development of the UN system of collective security
  • To develop students' knowledge and understanding of the rules relating to the prohibition of the use of force and the exceptions, both agreed and controversial, to those rules
  • To examine and critically assess the appropriateness, relevance and effectiveness of the international community's attempts, both past and present, to institute collective responses to the unlawful use of force
  • To develop students' discipline in the advocacy of the legal regulation of the use of force

Main Topics

  • Limitations on the Unilateral Use of Force by States
  • Chapter VII and the System for Collective Measures
  • UN peacekeeping
  • Regional security

Assessment

Class participation Preparation and engagement in class 20%
Seminar presentation 15%
Research essay outline 200 - 300 words 5%
Research essay 5,000 - 6,000 words 60%
 

Course Texts

Prescribed

  • Christine Gray, International Law and the Use of Force (2nd edn, Oxford University Press, 2004)
  • The Charter of the United Nations (available online)

Recommended
A detailed supplementary reading list will be prepared by the lecturer.

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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.