INTERNATIONAL LAW AND ORGANISATIONS
POL2IOL
2016
Credit points: 15
Subject outline
In an increasingly interdependent world, international law and international organisations are playing an important part in regulating human activity, both within and between states. In this subject students examine this trend, and its implications for the theory and practice of state sovereignty and international relations in a rapidly changing world. The trend is then considered with reference to developments in international law and organisations since 1945. Special attention is directed to the role of international organisations in conflict resolution, the laws of war, humanitarian law, international environmental law and the law of the sea, and migration and refugee law. How effective is international law at regulating state and human behaviour? What role do international organisations play in the development and enforcement of international laws and norms? And how could international law and organisations more effectively regulate the excesses of sovereign states?
School: School of Humanities & Social Sciences
Credit points: 15
Subject Co-ordinator: Jasmine-Kim Westendorf
Available to Study Abroad Students: Yes
Subject year level: Year Level 2 - UG
Exchange Students: Yes
Subject particulars
Subject rules
Prerequisites: 15 credit points of any first year Politics subject and 15 credit points of any Humanities and Social Sciences subject, or subject coordinator's approval.
Co-requisites: N/A
Incompatible subjects: POL3ILO
Equivalent subjects: N/A
Special conditions: Core-Choice subject at 2nd year level for the Bachelor of International Relations
Learning resources
Readings
| Resource Type | Title | Resource Requirement | Author and Year | Publisher |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Readings | International law: classic and contemporary readings | Recommended | Ku, C. and Diehl, P.F. (eds) | LYNNE RIENNER 1998 |
| Readings | International organizations | Recommended | Archer, C. | 3RD EDN. ROUTLEDGE 2001 |
| Readings | Understanding international law | Recommended | Henderson, C. W. | WILEY-BLACKWELL 2010 |
Graduate capabilities & intended learning outcomes
01. Critically analyse and report on the international political and security environment, with a sophisticated understanding of the roles and inter-relationship of international law and international organisations.
- Activities:
- Take-home exam, research essay, group exercise and online exercises.
02. Describe and analyse the means by which international law is developed, implemented and challenged in the context of international organisations in a nuanced and critically engaged manner.
- Activities:
- Take-home exam, research essay, group exercise and online exercises.
03. Develop complex and coherent arguments and analyses of the way international law and international organisations function in the international sphere and their relationship to other aspects of international relations.
- Activities:
- Take-home exam, research essay, group exercise and online exercises.
04. Read and research critically on international law, international organisations and international relations.
- Activities:
- Take-home exam, research essay, group exercise and online exercises.
Melbourne, 2016, Semester 1, Blended
Overview
Online enrolment: Yes
Maximum enrolment size: N/A
Enrolment information:
Subject Instance Co-ordinator: Jasmine-Kim Westendorf
Class requirements
SeminarWeek: 10 - 22
Twelve 3.0 hours seminar per week on weekdays during the day from week 10 to week 22 and delivered via blended.
Assessments
| Assessment element | Comments | % | ILO* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Group Wiki exercise (600-words equivalent) | 10 | 01, 02, 03 | |
| Weekly online exercises (equivalent to 400 words) | 15 | 01, 02, 04 | |
| one 2,000-word research essay | 50 | 01, 02, 03, 04 | |
| one take-home examination (eqivalent to 1200 words) | 25 | 01, 02, 03, 04 |