International Law and the United Kingdom
| Module title | International Law and the United Kingdom |
|---|---|
| Module code | LAW2144 |
| Academic year | 2021/2 |
| Credits | 15 |
| Module staff | Professor Caroline Fournet () |
| Duration: Term | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duration: Weeks | 11 |
| Number students taking module (anticipated) | 120 |
|---|
Module description
The purpose of this module is to provide you with an introduction to international law and its growing significance for the United Kingdom. It will provide you with an opportunity to explore how the UK relies on international law to address global challenges, ranging from counter-terrorism to climate change, but how it also uses international law as an instrument to advance the national interest. The module first examines the relationship between English law and international law, before turning to discuss how international law serves as a framework for international competition and for the pursuit of shared objectives. We will explore these themes by taking a problem-oriented approach. Teaching on the module relies on specific cases, incidents or current challenges to illustrate the operation of international law in a particular field. This approach will enable you to study a wide range of topics, such as the legal status of diplomats, the threat posed by disinformation and cyber operations, the permissibility of humanitarian intervention, the treatment of refugees, the role of the United Nations, and the workings of international trade.
There are no pre-requisites for this course. The module may be taken by students who wish to study other international law modules in their third year. However, it is not necessary to take this module as a pre-requiste in order to enrol on third year international law modules. Students will be expected to attend relevant seminars convened by the Exeter Centre for International Law.
Module aims - intentions of the module
The module is designed to provide you with an understanding of the key features of the international legal order and the role that international law plays in enabling and constraining the UK’s action on the international stage. It will enable you to discover the effect that international rules have in English law and their impact on government decision-making. The problem-oriented approach will allow you to study certain specific legal and policy challenges in greater detail and to benefit directly from the research undertaken by members of the teaching team in this area. Overall, the module will complement your knowledge of English and European law by equipping you with a better understanding of the role of law in international affairs.
Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
ILO: Module-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 1. demonstrate a critical understanding of the key features of the international legal order, the relationship between international law and English law, and the impact of international law on the United Kingdom.
- 2. demonstrate critical understanding and detailed knowledge of the operation and impact of international law in certain selected areas of study.
ILO: Discipline-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 3. demonstrate a critical understanding of the role of law and legal argument as a constraining and enabling factor for political decision-making.
- 4. apply legal knowledge to complex problems and apply judgement when presented with competing policy imperatives.
ILO: Personal and key skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 5. prepare analytically compelling work that relies on diverse primary and secondary sources, employs appropriate interpretative techniques and presents a nuanced line of argument.
- 6. engage in debate effectively and to develop complex arguments and opinions with limited guidance.
Syllabus plan
The following syllabus plan is indicative and may be subject to change, including in response to current developments. Some topics may be delivered by guest lecturers.
A rules-based international order
- introduction to the course
- the UK and a rules-based international order
International law in the domestic setting
- the effect of treaties and custom in English law
- exercising jurisdiction
- foreign States in English courts
- judicial review of foreign policy
Security, Conflict and Competition
- collective security and self-defence
- counter-terrorism
- nuclear deterrence
- cyber operations
- humanitarian intervention
- competition in the gray zone
International cooperation, values and commons
- membership in international organizations
- promoting human rights
- making law at the global level
- climate change and the environment
- protecting cultural property
- law of the sea
- managing international trade
Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
|---|---|---|
| 30 | 120 | 0 |
Details of learning activities and teaching methods
| Category | Hours of study time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled learning and teaching | 22 | 22 x 1 hour lectures |
| Scheduled learning and teaching | 6 | 3 x 2 hour seminars |
| Scheduled learning and teaching | 2 | Exeter Centre for International Law seminar |
| Guided independent study | 60 | reading and lecture preparation |
| Guided independent study | 40 | summative assessment preparation |
| Guided independent study | 14 | formative assessment preparation |
| Guided independent study | 6 | seminar preparation |
Formative assessment
| Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Problem-based essay | 1,200 words | 1-6 | written feedback |
Summative assessment (% of credit)
| Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
|---|---|---|
| 100 | 0 | 0 |
Details of summative assessment
| Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Problem-based essay | 100 | 3,750 words | 1-6 | Written feedback |
Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)
| Original form of assessment | Form of re-assessment | ILOs re-assessed | Timescale for re-assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Problem-based essay | Problem-based essay (3,750 words) | 1-6 | August\September reassessment period |
Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources
Indicative learning resources - Other resources
J. Hunt, Foreign Secretary's speech at the United States Institute For Peace, 21 August 2018 (https://www.gov.uk/).
R. Reichold, Do Ministers have to comply with international law? Court of Appeal looks at legal challenge, 20 November 2018 (Law of Nations blog).
M. Weller, An International Use of Force in Salisbury?, 14 March 2018 (EJIL Talk blog).
J. Klabbers, International Law (2nd edn, 2017).
V. Lowe, International Law: A Very Short Introduction (2007).
| Credit value | 15 |
|---|---|
| Module pre-requisites | None |
| Module co-requisites | None |
| NQF level (module) | 5 |
| Available as distance learning? | No |
| Origin date | 26/11/2018 |
| Last revision date | 21/10/2021 |
