International Law
Syllabus and Readings
2009 Course Syllabus
Reading Assignments
Supplemental Readings Volume 1
Supplemental Readings Volume 2
Researching International Legal Issues by J. Sherer
Legal Regimes & Geomorphic Regions of the Ocean
Legal Regimes of Oceans and Airspace Area
Dates & Topics
I. The Nature and Sources of International Law
August 26
A. The Nature and Importance of International Law
August 31
B. The Sources of International Law
September 1
C. The Relation Between National and International Law
II. Foreign Relations Law of the United States
September 2
A. The Foreign Affairs Power: Presidential and Congressional Authority
September 7
B. The Foreign Affairs Process
III. Treaties and International Agreements
September 8
A. General Principles
September 9
B. Interpretation of Treaties
September 14
C. Breach and Enforcement: The Law of Material Breach and Reprisal
September 15
D. International Agreements Under United States Law: Conclusion and Termination
September 16
E. International Agreements Under United States Law: The Debate About Unitary or Dual Modes of Interpretation
IV. The Use of Force—International Law in Conflict Settings
September 21
A. The History of the International Law of Conflict Management
September 22
B. Law and Competing Theories of the Origin of Major War
September 23
C. Collective Security and the Role of the United Nations and Regional Arrangements
September 28
D. Case Studies in United Nations Peace-keeping and Peace-enforcing: Yugoslavia (Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Serbia), Somalia, Haiti, Rwanda and Sierra Leone
September 29
E. The Wars in Afghanistan and Iraq: Case Studies in Jus ad Bellum and Jus in Bello
September 30
F. Nuremberg and the International Criminal Court: International Criminal Law
******** Fall Break, October 5-7, 2009 ********
October 12
G. 9/11 and the Control of Terrorism
V. The Structure of Peaceful Relations: General Principles
October 13
A. Jurisdiction
October 14
B. Immunity from Jurisdiction
October 19
C. International Responsibility and Remedies
October 20
D. States, Recognition, and Self-Determination
VI. The Law of the Sea
October 21
A. Historical Background; The Third United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea and the 1982 United Nations Convention
October 26
B. Navigation, the Contiguous Zone, and the Regime of the High Seas
October 27
C. The Exclusive Economic Zone and the Continental Margin
*D. Seabed Mining and the Regime of the Deep Seabed (Including the Part XI Implementation Agreement)
*Review the suggested readings for this section on your own.
October 28
E. Piracy
November 2
F. The 2003-05 Debate About the United Nations LOS Convention and United States Adherence: Toward Senate Advice and Consent
VII. Human Rights and the Rule of Law
November 3
A. Background and General Principles
November 4
B. Case Studies: - Democide in Kampuchea - Democide (“Ethnic Cleansing” or “Ethnic Burial”) in Bosnia - Democide in Rwanda - Democide in Kosovo
November 9
C. The Copenhagen Document: Toward the Rule of Law and Principles of Democratic Governance
D. Community of Democracies
November 10
E. International Human Rights in United States Courts
VIII. The Environment and Common Areas
November 11
A. Background and General Principles
November 16
B. Marine Pollution, and the Rio Conference: Discovering Eco-System Earth
November 17
C. Common Areas: Antarctica and Polar Policy, and the Moon, Other Celestial Bodies, and Outer Space
IX. International Economic Issues
November 18
A. International Trade
B. International Development and Investment
November 23
C. Regional Economic Communities
X. Peaceful Settlement of Disputes
November 24
A. Background and General Theory
******** Thanksgiving Break, November 25-27, 2009 ********
November 30
B. The International Court of Justice
December 1
C. Case Study: The Decision of the International Court of Justice in Nicaragua v. United States
December 2
XI. International Law: Toward a New World Order
December 5-17
EXAM PERIOD