Universität Wien

030325 KU The World Court in Action: Recent Decisions of the International Court of Justice (2026W)

4.00 ECTS (2.00 SWS), SPL 3 - Rechtswissenschaften
Continuous assessment of course work
Moodle
Th 15.10. 12:30-14:00 Hörsaal U16 Schottenbastei 10-16, Juridicum, KG1

Registration/Deregistration

Note: The time of your registration within the registration period has no effect on the allocation of places (no first come, first served).

Details

max. 55 participants
Language: English

Lecturers

Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N

On 22 October there will be no class session, there will be an online mid-term exam covering the first two sessions.
On 21 January there will be no class session, there will be the online final exam.

  • Thursday 08.10. 12:30 - 14:00 Hörsaal U16 Schottenbastei 10-16, Juridicum, KG1
  • Thursday 22.10. 12:30 - 14:00 Hörsaal U16 Schottenbastei 10-16, Juridicum, KG1
  • Thursday 05.11. 12:30 - 14:00 Hörsaal U16 Schottenbastei 10-16, Juridicum, KG1
  • Thursday 12.11. 12:30 - 14:00 Hörsaal U16 Schottenbastei 10-16, Juridicum, KG1
  • Thursday 19.11. 12:30 - 14:00 Hörsaal U16 Schottenbastei 10-16, Juridicum, KG1
  • Thursday 26.11. 12:30 - 14:00 Hörsaal U16 Schottenbastei 10-16, Juridicum, KG1
  • Thursday 03.12. 12:30 - 14:00 Hörsaal U16 Schottenbastei 10-16, Juridicum, KG1
  • Thursday 10.12. 12:30 - 14:00 Hörsaal U16 Schottenbastei 10-16, Juridicum, KG1
  • Thursday 17.12. 12:30 - 14:00 Hörsaal U16 Schottenbastei 10-16, Juridicum, KG1
  • Thursday 14.01. 12:30 - 14:00 Hörsaal U16 Schottenbastei 10-16, Juridicum, KG1
  • Thursday 21.01. 12:30 - 14:00 Hörsaal U16 Schottenbastei 10-16, Juridicum, KG1

Information

Aims, contents and method of the course

The course introduces students to recent decisions of the International Court of Justice (ICJ), addressing both pending and concluded cases. The course covers orders for provisional measures, judgments on preliminary objections, judgments on merits and advisory opinions. The content of these decisions concerns issues such as genocide, use of force, occupation, self-determination, international economic law and climate change. By analysing the case law, students will gain an understanding of the judicial function of the ICJ, its role in resolving international disputes and the impact of its decisions on international relations.

Assessment and permitted materials

Class Participation or Short Case Analysis; Midterm Exam; Final Exam
Voluntary Contribution: Participation in addition to short case analysis or vice versa

Minimum requirements and assessment criteria

There are no prerequisites for the course, but it is helpful to have completed a basic course in international law.

To pass the course, students must achieve a minimum of 50.1% out of 100%.
• Class Participation or Short Case Analysis: 30%
• Midterm Exam (online): 30% - 22 October 2026
• Final Exam (online): 40% - 21 January 2027

• Voluntary Contribution: Participation in addition to short case analysis or vice versa (substitutes 30% of grade) (to be sumitted by 31 January 2026)

Examination topics

Topics addressed in the assigned readings and during class.

Reading list

Selected ICJ orders and judgments
Shabtai Rosenne, ‘International Court of Justice’ in Max Planck Encyclopedia of Public International Law (2006)

Association in the course directory

Last modified: We 14.10.2026 13:45