International law
A.A. 2025/2026
Obiettivi formativi
International Law - Objectives
International law is the legal system of the international community, a community formed essentially by States, although it encompasses other relevant actors, such as international organizations and individuals, with different degrees of active participation. The objective of the course is to lead students to understand the fundamental concepts of such a system, such as the sources of the law, the legal subjects, the functioning of State responsibility, to acquire its logic, and to be able to apply both, concepts and logic, to the analysis of specific cases. This objective will be achieved through the direct involvement of students in the analysis of cases decided by the International Court of Justice and other international tribunals, as well as of hypotheticals. This will contribute in strengthening their critical thinking and their ability to communicate orally and in writing, and enabling them to solve new problems.
International law is the legal system of the international community, a community formed essentially by States, although it encompasses other relevant actors, such as international organizations and individuals, with different degrees of active participation. The objective of the course is to lead students to understand the fundamental concepts of such a system, such as the sources of the law, the legal subjects, the functioning of State responsibility, to acquire its logic, and to be able to apply both, concepts and logic, to the analysis of specific cases. This objective will be achieved through the direct involvement of students in the analysis of cases decided by the International Court of Justice and other international tribunals, as well as of hypotheticals. This will contribute in strengthening their critical thinking and their ability to communicate orally and in writing, and enabling them to solve new problems.
Risultati apprendimento attesi
By the end of the course, students will have acquired the basic concepts and will understand the logic of the international legal system. On the basis of the acquired knowledge, they shall be able to apply those concepts and logic to the analysis of specific cases. This objective will be achieved through the direct involvement of students in the analysis of cases decided by the International Court of Justice and other international tribunals, as well as of hypotheticals. This will contribute in strengthening their critical thinking and their ability to communicate orally and in writing, and enable them to solve new problems.
Periodo: Primo trimestre
Modalità di valutazione: Esame
Giudizio di valutazione: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Corso singolo
Questo insegnamento non può essere seguito come corso singolo. Puoi trovare gli insegnamenti disponibili consultando il catalogo corsi singoli.
Programma e organizzazione didattica
Edizione unica
Responsabile
Periodo
Primo trimestre
Programma
A) Programme for attending students (="frequentanti").
The course is divided in three modules. The first module will investigate the nature of international law, its sources and legal persons. The following topics will be developed:
- Notion and brief history of international law
- The sources of international law: treaties. The law of treaties
- The sources of international law: custom and general principles
- Other sources; the hierarchy of norms: jus cogens and its crisis
- Codification and progressive development of international law
- International law and national law
- The subjects of the international legal system: States
- Other legal persons: international organizations; individuals.
The second module will delve into the content of international law, dealing with some of the sectors of international life regulated by its norms:
- Sovereignty and jurisdiction
- State immunity
- Diplomatic and other State organs' immunities
- The law of the sea
- Air space and outer space
- International environmental law
- Human rights
- International criminal law
The third module will go back to some fundamental structural aspects of the international legal system:
- State responsibility: internationally wrongful acts and their consequences
- The use of force: the jus ad bellum and its crisis
- The UN, its collective security system, and their limits
- The pacific settlement of international disputes: diplomatic and arbitral/judicial methods.
B) Programme for non-attending students (="non frequentanti").
The programme may be divided in three parts:
1. The nature of international law, its sources and legal persons. In particular:
- The sources of international law: treaties. The law of treaties
- The sources of international law: custom and general principles
- Other sources; the hierarchy of norms: jus cogens
- The subjects of the international legal system: States
- Other legal persons: international organizations; individuals.
2. The content of international law, dealing with some of the sectors of international life regulated by its norms:
- Sovereignty and jurisdiction
- State immunity
- Diplomatic and other State organs' immunities
- The law of the sea
- International economic law
- International environmental law
- International humanitarian law
- Human rights
- International criminal law
3. Some fundamental structural aspects of the international legal system:
- State responsibility: internationally wrongful acts and their consequences
- The use of force
- The UN and its collective security system
- The pacific settlement of international disputes: diplomatic and arbitral/judicial methods.
The course is divided in three modules. The first module will investigate the nature of international law, its sources and legal persons. The following topics will be developed:
- Notion and brief history of international law
- The sources of international law: treaties. The law of treaties
- The sources of international law: custom and general principles
- Other sources; the hierarchy of norms: jus cogens and its crisis
- Codification and progressive development of international law
- International law and national law
- The subjects of the international legal system: States
- Other legal persons: international organizations; individuals.
The second module will delve into the content of international law, dealing with some of the sectors of international life regulated by its norms:
- Sovereignty and jurisdiction
- State immunity
- Diplomatic and other State organs' immunities
- The law of the sea
- Air space and outer space
- International environmental law
- Human rights
- International criminal law
The third module will go back to some fundamental structural aspects of the international legal system:
- State responsibility: internationally wrongful acts and their consequences
- The use of force: the jus ad bellum and its crisis
- The UN, its collective security system, and their limits
- The pacific settlement of international disputes: diplomatic and arbitral/judicial methods.
B) Programme for non-attending students (="non frequentanti").
The programme may be divided in three parts:
1. The nature of international law, its sources and legal persons. In particular:
- The sources of international law: treaties. The law of treaties
- The sources of international law: custom and general principles
- Other sources; the hierarchy of norms: jus cogens
- The subjects of the international legal system: States
- Other legal persons: international organizations; individuals.
2. The content of international law, dealing with some of the sectors of international life regulated by its norms:
- Sovereignty and jurisdiction
- State immunity
- Diplomatic and other State organs' immunities
- The law of the sea
- International economic law
- International environmental law
- International humanitarian law
- Human rights
- International criminal law
3. Some fundamental structural aspects of the international legal system:
- State responsibility: internationally wrongful acts and their consequences
- The use of force
- The UN and its collective security system
- The pacific settlement of international disputes: diplomatic and arbitral/judicial methods.
Prerequisiti
Students are expected to have a basic understanding of the concepts of legal systems and legal rules.
Metodi didattici
Lessons. The teacher will encourage active student participation, particularly by involving them in the analysis of cases or hypotheticals and in basic research activities.
Materiale di riferimento
Attending students (= "frequentanti"):
References: Cecily Rose et al., An Introduction to Public International Law, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 2022 (First module: chapters 1-4, 8; second module: chapters 6, 7, 10, 13, 15, 16; third module: chapters 5, 9, 11). Supplementary materials will be suggested during the classes.
Non-attending students (="non frequentanti"):
References: Cecily Rose et al., An Introduction to Public International Law, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 2022 (First module: chapters 1-4, 8; second module: chapters 6, 7, 10, 12-16; third module: chapters 5, 9, 11).
References: Cecily Rose et al., An Introduction to Public International Law, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 2022 (First module: chapters 1-4, 8; second module: chapters 6, 7, 10, 13, 15, 16; third module: chapters 5, 9, 11). Supplementary materials will be suggested during the classes.
Non-attending students (="non frequentanti"):
References: Cecily Rose et al., An Introduction to Public International Law, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 2022 (First module: chapters 1-4, 8; second module: chapters 6, 7, 10, 12-16; third module: chapters 5, 9, 11).
Modalità di verifica dell’apprendimento e criteri di valutazione
During the course, students will have the opportunity to comment on cases and/or propose solutions to hypotheticals. These activities are designed to help students apply the knowledge they acquire to practical situations and to develop their reasoning and public speaking skills. Students will also engage in basic online research, enabling them to strengthen their research abilities and further improve their legal reasoning. Those who distinguish themselves in these activities may receive one or two bonus points added to their final grade.
After the first half of the course, there will be a written midterm exam for attending students. This intermediate assessment will consist of two open-ended questions based on the first part of the programme, aiming to evaluate the student's ability to express acquired knowledge clearly and critically, and to apply it to practical cases. The midterm exam will count for 50% of the final grade.
The final exam is oral and will include two or three questions designed to assess the student's understanding of the topics covered in the second half of the course and their ability to apply legal reasoning to hypothetical scenarios. The final exam will also account for 50% of the final grade. The final grade will be expressed on a 30-point scale.
Students who do not take or do not pass the midterm exam will have their final grade entirely determined by the final oral exam.
After the first half of the course, there will be a written midterm exam for attending students. This intermediate assessment will consist of two open-ended questions based on the first part of the programme, aiming to evaluate the student's ability to express acquired knowledge clearly and critically, and to apply it to practical cases. The midterm exam will count for 50% of the final grade.
The final exam is oral and will include two or three questions designed to assess the student's understanding of the topics covered in the second half of the course and their ability to apply legal reasoning to hypothetical scenarios. The final exam will also account for 50% of the final grade. The final grade will be expressed on a 30-point scale.
Students who do not take or do not pass the midterm exam will have their final grade entirely determined by the final oral exam.
Docente/i
Ricevimento:
Mercoledì, ore 9.30-12.30, per appuntamento, in presenza o su Microsoft Teams.
stanza U1, dip. Studi internazionali, giuridici e storico-politici, via Conservatorio 7, primo piano