LAW3677: International Peace and Security

• LAW2131 Public International Law

• If not taken LAW2131 Public International Law in year 2 - at discretion of module leader/course director.

• None

• This module aims to provide an introduction to the ways that law regulates questions of war and peace. Students will acquire foundational knowledge of the principles, bodies of law and international institutions responsible for the maintenance of international peace and security. The module provides a basis for advanced study of specialized regimes in this field of theory and practice.

• The UN Charter and the legal framework for the maintenance of international peace and security.
• Multilateral Institutions and the maintenance of international peace and security
• The legal framework regulating the use of force in international law.
• International humanitarian law and the relationship between the use of force and the regulation of the conduct of hostilities.
• The Women, Peace and Security Agenda, and international frameworks for inclusive security.
• Post-conflict security and the negotiation of peace, including jus post bellum and transitional justice as normative frameworks for peacemaking.

Subject-specific Knowledge:

• An in-depth knowledge of the international legal architecture regulating peace and security.
• A clear understanding of the role of different international and regional institutions in promoting peace and security.
• Knowledge of the substantive rules regulating peace and security before, during and after conflict.

Subject-specific Skills:

• Identify and analyse relevant sources of law such as treaties and UN resolutions.
• Interpret rules and doctrines of security in the context of the international legal order.
• Analyze the relevant bodies of law to identify limitations and shortcomings of the current legal regimes.
• Apply their understanding to contemporary problems.

Key Skills:

• Identify legal rules and principles from a diverse range of international sources.
• Write clearly and coherently, presenting concise summaries of the law.
• Demonstrate the ability to provide accurate and nuanced analysis of contemporary global conflicts.
• Critically assess the effectiveness of the law in this field.

• The module will be delivered primarily through seminars.
• There will be one lecture at the beginning of the year to provide an overview of the content of the module and to explain the teaching and learning methods to students. Subsequently all teaching will be through interactive seminars.
• Guided reading materials and seminar tasks will be provided in advance and students will be expected to prepare for and engage in seminar discussion.
• The seminar preparation will include working with a range of different types of sources, including primary legal materials, policy sources, visual materials and academic commentary and critique.
• Assessment by essay will develop/demonstrate students' abilities to undertake research with international law materials relating to peace and security, and to think critically and engage with relevant debates.

Students will be asked to prepare a short legal opinion on a scenario of contemporary relevance in international peace and security. These opinions will be presented in class and used to provide discussion points. The opinion will address the following learning outcomes Apply their understanding to contemporary problems. Write clearly and coherently, presenting concise summaries of the law. The summaries written for the formative will form the basis of preparation for the summative essay.

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