JURI 4640:
International Law I
The International Legal Process

Professor Bodansky, Fall 2004
University of Georgia School of Law

 

 

 

 

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Revised:  November 11, 2004

Note: This syllabus is subject to revision.

 

SYLLABUS

 

Class Time
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday 8:30-9:20

Room I

Contact Information:
Professor Bodansky
Office: Rusk 209

Office hours: Tuesday, 2:30-4:20
Tel: 542-7052
Email: bodansky@uga.edu
Assistant: Shawn Lanphere, Rusk 313, 542-9357

 

I.          Overview

 

This course provides a general introduction to the international legal process. In studying the international legal process, we will examine many of the basic doctrines of international law, including the sources of international law, the creation and continuity of states, international organizations, and the use of force. But the primary purpose of the course is to investigate the role that law plays in international society, not to survey the substantive rules of international law.

 

The basic quandary of international law arises from the fact that there is no authoritative decision-maker at the international level either to say what the law is (the role that legislatures and courts play in national legal systems) or to implement and enforce the law (the role of the executive branch). Many commentators argue that, consequently, international law is really just rhetoric used by states to justify their actions, but which they violate when it suits their interests. As the French philosopher, Raymond Aron, once quipped, "International law is a permanent incitement to hypocrisy."

 

The course will assess the status of international law by examining the following questions:

 

                          (1)      How and why do legal norms emerge at the international level?

                          (2)      How do we ascertain the rules of international law, in the absence of courts?

                          (3)      What reasons do states have to comply with those norms?

 

We will address these questions in the context of particular case studies or current events. The class will consist mostly of discussion.

 

II.         Readings

 

The required text is:

 

Jeffrey Dunoff, Steven Ratner & David Wippman, International Law: Norms, Actors, Process (Aspen 2002)

 

In addition, there are photocopied Supplemental Readings, available for purchase from Shawn Lanphere in Rusk 313.

 

If you are interested in further information about international law, other good sources include:

 

David Bederman, International Law Frameworks (Foundation Press 2001).

 

Ian Brownlie, Principles of Public International Law (Oxford Univ. Press 5th ed. 1999).

 

Mark W. Janis, An Introduction to International Law (Little Brown & Company (Aspen 4th ed. 2003),

 

Peter Malanczuk, Akehurst’s A Modern Introduction to International Law (Routledge 7th ed. 1997).

 

III.       Web Site

 

             The Web site for this class is:

 

                          http://www.law.uga.edu/~bodansky/courses/International_Law/index.html

 

The Web site includes supplemental readings, the course syllabus and reading list, exams from previous years, and links to resources on the Web that are relevant to the topics we are studying. I also plan to use the Web site to make announcements and respond to general questions about the course, so you should check it on a regular basis.

 

IV.        Exam

 

There will be a three-hour open-book final exam. “Open-book” means that you may consult the assigned readings, class handouts, and your notes.

 

You have the option of taking the exam on your computer.

 

V.       Class Participation

 

Classroom participation is an important part of the course. If you are unprepared for a particular class, please let me know before class begins. Remember, good classroom participation depends on the quality of the comments rather than the quantity.

 

VI.       Grading

 

Grades will be based on the final exam. Grades can be adjusted up for exceptional classroom participation.

 

 

CLASS SCHEDULE

 

CLASS

DAY

 

READINGS

 

 

Week 1: August 16-20

The Nature of International Law

 

1

Tu

Introduction: The US Invasion of Iraq

Handout (from Shawn Lanphere, Rusk 313)

2

Th

Traditional International Law: Aouzou Strip Dispute

Supplement 1; Casebook 1-15

 

 

Week 2: August 23-27

The Nature of International Law

 

3

M

Modern International Law: Rainbow Warrior Dispute

Supplement 3-4; Casebook 15-30

4

Tu

Consensual Theory of International Law: Lotus Case

Supplement 5-27; Casebook 329-56 (skim)

5

Th

Consensual theory cont.

[No new assignment] 

 

 

Week 3: August 30-September 3

Sources of International Law:  Treaties

 

6

M

Treaties: Introduction

Supplement 29-33; Casebook 31-48

7

Tu

Treaties: ABM Treaty

Supplement 35-58

Casebook 294-302 (read), 49-69 (skim)

8

Th

Treaties: European Convention on Human Rights

Supplement 59-91

 

 

Week 4: September 6-10

Sources of International Law:  Treaties

 

 

M

Labor Day

 

9

Tu

Treaties: European Convention on Human Rights (cont)

[No new assignment]

10

W

Treaties: Ozone Agreement:  Negotiation and Adjustment

Supplement 93-98

Casebook 639-43, 738-53

 

 

Week 5: September 13-17

Sources of International Law:  Custom

 

11

M

Treaties: Ozone Agreement:  Compliance

Supplement 99-103; Casebook 753-60

12

Tu

Custom: Diplomatic immunities

Supplement 105-57; Casebook 70, 74-81

13

Th

Custom: Diplomatic immunities cont.

[No new assignment]

 

 

Week 6: September 20-24

Sources of International Law:  Custom, UN Resolutions

 

14

M

Custom: Continental Shelf Doctrine

Supplement 159-89; Casebook 679-87 

15

Tu

Custom and Treaties: Continental Shelf Convention

Supplement 191-205; Casebook 687-98

16

Th

UN Resolutions: Expropriation of Foreign Property

Supplement 207-21

Casebook 70-74, 81-87

 

 

Week 7: September 27-October 1

Sources of International Law:  Soft Law, Non-Consensual Courses

 

17

M

Soft Law:  Paris AIDS Declaration

Supplement 223-27; Casebook 87-99

18

Tu

Non-Consensual Sources: Prohibition of the Slave Trade

Supplement 229-51

19

Th

Limits of International Law: Kellogg-Briand Pact

Supplement 253-65

 

 

Week 8: October 4-8

The Role of National Courts

 

20

M

Relationship of National and International Law:  Breard case

Casebook 253-58, 278-93

21

M (5:30-6:20)

Alien Tort Claims Act

Casebook 302-15

22

Tu

Act of State Doctrine

Casebook 315-28

 

Th

No Class

 

 

 

Week 9:  October 11-15:  No Class

 

 

 

 

Week 10: October 18-22

International Dispute Resolution / Participants-Actors

 

23

M

Introduction to International Dispute Resolution

Handout

24

M (5:30-6:20)

Investment Dispute Resolution: Loewen

Casebook 809-21

25

Tu

WTO Dispute Resolution: Bananas

Casebook 777-95

26

Th

States

Casebook 101-37

 

 

Week 11: October 25-29

Participants-Actors in the International Legal Process / International Humanitarian Law

 

27

M

International Organizations

Casebook 165-90

28

Tu

Problem of Legitimacy

Casebook 909-34

29

Tu (5:30-6:20)

NGOs: The Land Mines Convention

Casebook 191-92, 201-06; Handout

30

Tu (6:30-7:20)

Corporations

Casebook 206-25

31

Th

International Humanitarian Law:  Basic Norms

Casebook 501-02, 507-12, 527-48

 

 

Week 12:  November 1-5

International Criminal Law

 

32

M

Individual Responsibility

Casebook 561-79

33

Tu

National vs. International Tribunals:  Prosecution of Saddam Hussein

Casebook 595-612

34

Th

Universal Jurisdiction

Casebook 612-28

 

 

Week 13: November 8-12

Use of Force

 

35

M

Basic Rules on the Use of Force

Casebook 825-34, 864-75

36

Tu

Humanitarian Intervention: NATO Action in Kosovo

Casebook 888-908

37

Th

Preemptive Self-Defense:  US Invasion of Afghanistan and Iraq

Casebook 934-50

 

 

Week 14: November 15-19

War on Terrorism

 

38

M

Is International Law Adequate to Address Terrorism?

Handout

39

Tu

Treatment of Detainees: POW Status

Casebook 950-58

Goldman, "Legal Status of Iraqi Combatants"

Casebook Supplement

 

40

Th

Treatment of Detainees:  Torture and Coercion

Casebook 410-28

Casebook Supplement

 

 

 

Week 15: November 22-23

Wrap-Up

 

41

M

Is International Law in the US Interest?

Handout

Tucker & Hendrickson, “The Sources of American Legitimacy”

42

Tu

Is International Law Effective?

Casebook 968-81