| Unit name | General Principles of International Law |
|---|---|
| Unit code | LAWD20041 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | I/5 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 1 (weeks 1 - 12) |
| Unit director | Dr. Hill-Cawthorne |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you may not take alongside this one |
None |
| School/department | University of Bristol Law School |
| Faculty | Faculty of Social Sciences and Law |
Why is this unit important?
International law is the body of law that governs the relations between nation States, and, increasingly, the relationship between States and individuals. In an increasingly inter-connected world, and where global challenges such as war, climate change and poverty become ever urgent challenges, international law now dominates daily news cycles. It regulates areas as diverse as war, trade and foreign investment, the environment, human rights, and common spaces such as the high seas and outer space. Understanding where international law comes from, what it requires (and permits) of States, what happens when a State violates international law and how it can be enforced is thus fundamental to being able to engage in debates about contemporary global challenges. This unit will equip you with the knowledge and critical capacity to contribute to these urgent topics.
How does this unit fit into your programme of study?
International law now forms a fundamental part of any core legal education around the world. You will find that much of what we discuss follows similar principles to standard English law units, such as the need to locate a particular legal rule within a recognised source of law. But international law also differs in significant ways from your other units and will thus give you the chance to ‘think outside the box’ and expand your knowledge. In many ways, this optional unit teaches you about a legal system rather than a single area of substantive law, like your other units. More specifically, we will also see how the way in which international law is made and enforced differs in very important ways from domestic law.
An overview of content
Most of the unit will focus on foundational aspects of international law, such as the sources of international law (where it comes from), the subjects of international law (who creates and is bound by it), and the consequences of violating international law. We will also spend a little time looking at a substantive area of international in detail, namely the rules governing when one State can use military force against another State.
How will students, personally, be different as a result of the unit?
The unit is structured and taught so as to inspire students in learning both about the law and about the historical and contemporary geopolitics that has often driven developments in international law.
Learning outcomes
Teaching is via traditional lectures offering overview of core topics, large-class deep dive sessions exploring particular issues/cases in depth, and seminars at which students will be expected to engage fully with pre-seen discussion questions having completed the set readings. LOs 1 and 2 will primarily be met via the lectures, large group sessions and independent reading. LO 3 will be met particularly in seminars and seminar prep. LO 4 will be met primarily in seminar prep, prep for the formative assessment and in a virtual reading group where students will be invited to read and briefly comment on a particular piece of scholarship.
Tasks which help you learn and prepare you for summative tasks (formative):
1000 word critique of a primary or secondary source midway through the teaching block. This will give students a chance to practise critically analysing a particular judgment or piece of scholarship. Such critical analysis is a core part of what will be assessed in the summative assessment. Individual written feedback and group feedback, usually via a lecture, will be provided. Additional formative opportunities take place during seminars and large group sessions, providing the opportunity to develop skills and prepare and evaluate answers. Further formative opportunities are available through Blackboard (including the discussion forums) and consultation hours.
Tasks which count towards your unit mark (summative):
Timed assessment, 2 x 1500 word essays out of a choice of at least 6 essay-style questions, submitted at the end of the teaching block. This assessment covers all Intended Learning Outcomes for this unit.
When assessment does not go to plan:
When a student fails the unit and is eligible to resubmit, the unit will be reassessed on a like-for-like basis. The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessment required for credit in the usual way.
If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.
If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. LAWD20041).
How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours
of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks,
independent learning and assessment activity.
See the University Workload statement relating to this unit for more information.
Assessment
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit.
The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. For appropriate assessments, if you have self-certificated your absence, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (for assessments at the end of TB1 and TB2 this is usually in the next re-assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any exceptional circumstances and operates
within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.
