JUS5540 – Public International Law
Course description
Schedule, syllabus and examination date
Course content
This course addresses general public international law, including the sources of international law (treaties, customary international law and general principles of law), rights and obligations of states and other subjects of international law, self-determination, sovereignty and immunities, responsibility, dispute settlement, use of counter-measures and sanctions, and the use of force. This course will critically examine the function and output of the UN Security Council, the General Assembly, and the ICJ. Theoretical approaches to international law, such as Realism, TWAIL, and Feminism will be explored. Topical regimes, such as human rights, law of the sea, etc. will be addressed in relation to current global challenges.
For students enrolled in Rettsvitenskap (jus) (master – 5 ?r): Have you considered a specialization as part of your degree? The course is part of the profile Internasjonal rett og menneskerettigheter.
Learning outcome
Admission
You may register for this course if you have admission to a Master’s programme at UiO or the faculty's exchange programme. You can also register for this course if you do not have admission to any programme at UiO, but meet the formal prerequistites.
All students are required meet the formal prerequistites.
Have you met the formal prerequisites at another institution than the University of Oslo, and the results are not formally registered at UiO, you must apply for admission to courses at Master’s level . Students with admission to Master’s degree programmes at other faculties than The Faculty of Law must also apply for admission.
When your admission is in order you must register for courses in StudentWeb
Prerequisites
Formal prerequisite knowledge
Students must fill one of these requirements:
- Passed 1st - 3rd year of the 5-years degree Master of Laws (Master i rettsvitenskap at UiO) (or exams that qualify for exemption for these) or
- Hold a 5-years Master’s degree in Laws (Master i rettsvitenskap at UiO) or equivalent.
Exemptions from the formal prerequisites will be given to students with admission to the faculty's own exchange or master’s degree programmes. This rule does not apply to students with admission to other master’s degree programmes at the University of Oslo, unless otherwise agreed.
Recommended previous knowledge
Three years of law studies.
Overlapping courses
- 10 credits overlap with VALFOLK – Folkerett (discontinued)
- 10 credits overlap with JUXFOLK – Folkerett (discontinued)
- 10 credits overlap with JUVOFOLR
- 10 credits overlap with JUR5540 – Public International Law (discontinued)
Teaching
Lectures/seminars.
Language of teaching for this course is English. This means that all
communication during lectures/seminars will be in English, and all
literature and auxiliary materials are in English.
Examination
Two written individual memos:
1000 and 2500 words
Compulsory activities:
10 minute video presentation of conflicting narratives in international law with accompanying individual memos (40%) Students will work in groups of six students to address a historical event in which international law issues were presented differently within media, academic articles/blogs, output by think tanks (such as the South Centre), press statements from IOs, NGO reports, statements from government officials, or decisions by judges of international, regional, or national courts. Students will explain the diverging narratives and how this impacted our understanding of the legal issues.
Students can select topics on the first day of class and receive approval form Professor Bailliet. Each group should examine a different situation. Each student will submit a 1000 word memo outlining the research conducted and reflections on what they learned about the presentation of international law within media and other outputs.
Security Council debate with individual memos (60%). Students will work in groups of six to prepare arguments for a mock UN Security Debate, the topic will be assigned at the beginning of the semester. Each group will present a draft resolution and memo of arguments. Each student will hand in a 2,500 word memo.
See detailed examination guidelines in Canvas.
Footnotes should NOT be included in the word count for the two memos. Not included in this count: front page (title etc.), summary, table of contents and references (bibliography). (If relevant for the paper).
Assignments/papers with text exceeding the word limit will not be accepted.
Examination support material
This is an open book exam. Candidates may therefore make use of all available sources during the examination period.
Your exam paper must be an independent work. Exam candidates are not permitted to communicate with other persons about the exam question(s) or distribute draft answers or exam answers.
General rules on exam support materials
Use of sources and rules for citing
Familiarize yourself with the use of sources and citations in legal writing. In an exam situation, using other people’s material without declaring it in a clear manner may be considered cheating or an attempt at cheating. You must cite any sources you draw on.
Language of examination
The examination text is given in English, and you submit your response in English.
Grading scale
Grades are awarded on a scale from A to F, where A is the best grade and F is a fail. Read more about the grading system.
Marking criteria for written examination
This guide is used by examiners for grading elective courses at the Faculty of Law.
Explanations and appeals
Resit an examination
- Illness at exams / postponed exams
- Resitting an examination.
- There are special rules for resitting a passed examination in the master's programme in Law.
Withdrawal from an examination
It is possible to take this exam up to 3 times. If you withdraw from the exam after the deadline or during the exam, this will be counted as an examination attempt.
There are special rules for resitting a passed examination in the master's programme in Law.
Special examination arrangements
Application form, deadline and requirements for special examination arrangements.
Evaluation
The course is subject to continuous evaluation. At regular intervals we also ask students to participate in a more comprehensive evaluation.
Other
The language for this course is English. Students enrolled in the
Masterprogrammet i rettsvitenskap must pass one
English subject as part of their degree, this course will meet these
obligations.