030269 KU Critical Thinking & Theory in International Law (2013S)

This course requires students to critically examine the role of international law in contemporary society. To this end, students are introduced to critical ways to view substantive international legal doctrine. This will include an introduction to Critical Legal Studies (CLS) and similarly critical strands of thought. The course will also include an application of said theory to particular areas of international law, including the architecture of the legal system, democracy in international law, poverty, the laws of war and humanitarianism. This course will, in short, combine theory with doctrinal practice to provide a critical view of the role that international law has to play in contemporary society.
But this class shall run on critical discussion and argument. Students are not simply encouraged to form, express, and argue for substantiated opinions, but they are required to do so. This of course requires full and substantial completion of assigned reading material (which will be manageable).