030335 KU International Judicial Decisions and their Political Context (2014W)

The class is addressed to law students with at least a basic knowledge of public international law (sources of international law, principles of international law, role of states and individuals). The class will focus on a legal analysis of several decisions rendered by international courts and tribunals during the last decade and put the legal issues in their political context. International affairs and politics continuously shape international law. Up until the early 20th century, international law in fact was not seen as a separate discipline but rather a continuation of politics at the international level. Yet, international law binds states and creates rights and obligations for its subjects. Can political conflicts be settled by law? This will be measured against Martti Koskenniemi’s statement that ‘Modern international law is an elaborate framework for deferring substantive resolution elsewhere: into further procedure, interpretation, equity, context, and so on.’