Universität Wien

030479 KU International Law and the Use of Force (2026W)

From Self-Defense to the Responsibility to Protect

3.00 ECTS (2.00 SWS), SPL 3 - Rechtswissenschaften
Continuous assessment of course work
Moodle
We 21.10. 10:00-12:00 Hörsaal U13 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. 56 participants
Language: English

Lecturers

Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N

  • Wednesday 07.10. 10:00 - 12:00 Hörsaal U13 Schottenbastei 10-16, Juridicum, KG1
  • Wednesday 14.10. 10:00 - 12:00 Hörsaal U13 Schottenbastei 10-16, Juridicum, KG1
  • Wednesday 28.10. 10:00 - 12:00 Hörsaal U13 Schottenbastei 10-16, Juridicum, KG1
  • Wednesday 04.11. 10:00 - 12:00 Hörsaal U13 Schottenbastei 10-16, Juridicum, KG1
  • Wednesday 11.11. 10:00 - 12:00 Hörsaal U13 Schottenbastei 10-16, Juridicum, KG1
  • Wednesday 18.11. 10:00 - 12:00 Hörsaal U13 Schottenbastei 10-16, Juridicum, KG1
  • Wednesday 25.11. 10:00 - 12:00 Hörsaal U13 Schottenbastei 10-16, Juridicum, KG1
  • Wednesday 02.12. 10:00 - 12:00 Hörsaal U13 Schottenbastei 10-16, Juridicum, KG1
  • Wednesday 09.12. 10:00 - 12:00 Hörsaal U13 Schottenbastei 10-16, Juridicum, KG1
  • Wednesday 16.12. 10:00 - 12:00 Hörsaal U13 Schottenbastei 10-16, Juridicum, KG1
  • Wednesday 13.01. 10:00 - 12:00 Hörsaal U13 Schottenbastei 10-16, Juridicum, KG1
  • Wednesday 20.01. 10:00 - 12:00 Hörsaal U13 Schottenbastei 10-16, Juridicum, KG1

Information

Aims, contents and method of the course

This course examines the prohibition of the use of force and its (possible) exceptions. Topics include the history of rules on the ius ad bellum, self-defence, measures authorized by the Security Council, Intervention by Invitation, Humanitarian Interventions, the Responsibility to Protect, Peacekeeping, and the law of neutrality.
Case studies include, but are not limited to, the US interventions in Latin America during the Cold War, above all in Nicaragua, Grenada and Panama during the 1980s, the Soviet actions in Hungary, the Czech Republic or Afghanistan, the "frozen conflict" in Cyprus, the 1990/91 Gulf War, the conflict in Somalia 1992, the Yugoslav wars, the genocide in Rwanda, ECOWAS interventions after unconstitutional regime changes in West Africa, the NATO intervention in Kosovo 1999, Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan, the 2003 Iraq invasion, the 2008 Russia-Georgia War, the application of the 'Responsibility to Protect" in Libya 2011, the annexation of Crimea and the fighting in Eastern Ukraine from 2014 onwards, the conflicts between Israel and the Hamas, the conflict in Syria, Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine, and the brief Israel-Iran wars 2024/2025.

Assessment and permitted materials

Presence in class: only two unexcused absences allowed
Midterm Exam in late November (date to be fixated in the first session): 10 points
Final exam in the last session: 30 points
Students need to be physically present for both exams. Closed book.
Both exams take place via Moodle and consist of single choice, multiple choice, fill-in-the-blank, right/wrong questions and matching tasks.
Active participation in class on the basis of the course material as provided on moodle.
Overall: 40 points

Minimum requirements and assessment criteria

– positive Grade: >50% in the two exams (in total, not for each): midterm (10 points), final exam (30 points)
– active participation in class (5 bonus points)
40 points in total

Midterm exam: 25 November
Final exam: 20 January

Examination topics

alle Kapitel in Ralph Janik, International Law and the Use of Force: Cases and Materials (Routledge 2020)
all slides
additional reading materials uploaded on moodle

Reading list

Core text: Ralph Janik, International Law and the Use of Force: Cases and Materials (Routledge 2020)

Additional articles and videos on Moodle.

(Non-obligatory) reading recommendations:

– Christian Henderson, The Use of Force and International Law (2nd edition, Cambridge University Press 2023)
– Tom Ruys and Olivier Corten with Alexandra Hofer (eds), The Use of Force in International Law. A Case-based Approach (Oxford University Press 2018)
– Christine Gray, International Law and the Use of Force (4th edition, Oxford University Press 2018)
– Yoram Dinstein, War, Aggression and Self Defence (3rd edition, Cambridge University Press 2017)
– Marc Weller (eds), The Oxford Handbook of the Use of Force in International Law (Oxford University Press 2017)

Association in the course directory

Last modified: Th 08.10.2026 10:46