Veidlapa Nr. M-3 (8)

Study Course Description

International Law and Diplomatic Rights

Main Study Course Information

Course Code

SZF_044

Branch of Science

ECTS

6.00

Target Audience

Political Science

LQF

Level 7

Study Type And Form

Full-Time

Study Course Implementer

Course Supervisor

Aleksandrs Fillers

Structure Unit Manager

Ieva Puzo

Structural Unit

Faculty of Social Sciences

Contacts

Dzirciema street 16, Rīga, szf@rsu.lv

About Study Course

Objective

To provide basic knowledge in international public law, to evaluate and clarify the most important principles, practices and interpretation possibilities of modern international law in international relations. Upon completion of the course, the student will have the knowledge and skills to evaluate the legality of states' actions, be able to analyze the arguments that states use to justify their actions in the context of international law, as well as identify the mechanisms by which disputes between states can be legally resolved. In order to achieve this goal, it is necessary to analyze and explain the conceptual and legal foundations of modern international law, the process of law formation, their division into different categories and their importance in international relations as a whole.

Preliminary Knowledge

General knowledge about international relations.

Learning Outcomes

Knowledge

1.Students will understand principal concepts of international law, and will be able to find appropriate law norms for specific situations, evaluate the legal situation, and compare various law institutions.

Skills

1.Students will be able to work with a large amount of information, which applies to specific legal situations, apply the use of legal interpretation methods, apply the use of international legal terms, and present their opinions.

Competences

1.Students will be able to apply their knowledge in practice, evaluate situations from specific legal aspects, provide arguments in disputes and logically explain legal situations from the point of view of international law.

Assessment

Individual work

Title	% from total grade	Grade
1. Individual work	-	-
The aim of the group presentation is to develop skills of cooperation, and the ability to analyze complex international law sources (e.g., court judgments, commentaries by scholars, etc.), understand the arguments found therein, and assess their merits. The skills are developed during the preparation for the presentation. By presenting the results of their work, students develop the skill of public speech. Presentation must be prepared in groups, it is a task for students to agree on a reasonable division of tasks within the group, perform an in-depth study of the legal sources, present the results of the study together with a critical assessment of the insights, and ideas expressed in the said source. After the presentation, students submit their slides to the lecturer. During the assessment of the presentation, it is taken into account how successfully students have identified the crucial insights and ideas expressed in the legal source, how they have assessed the soundness, and structure of the presentation, and the ability of the students to smoothly present the main ideas in the analyzed source. During the preparation for seminars, students need to study the course literature and other sources (conventions, UN resolutions, etc.) in order to find an answer to the theoretical questions or practical studies provided in advance by the lecturer. Likewise, for seminars, students will be asked to analyse selected legal sources, assessing the soundness of the arguments expressed therein and legal consequences of such arguments. In order to assess the activity of students during the seminars, the lecturer takes into account how carefully students have studied the case exercise, whether they have found correct answers or valuable arguments in the context of the case study, and whether they understand the interaction between different legal sources.

Examination

Title	% from total grade	Grade
1. Examination	-	-
The cumulative score of the grades acquired in the course constitutes the diploma grade. Students have to take into account the following requirements, requirement sections and grading criteria: - Participation, activity, and quality of answers during seminars - 10%; - Group presentation - 40%; - Exam - 50%. Students, who have failed to attend 3 or more seminars, in order to receive a positive grade for participation must submit homework. The homework will consist of a theoretical question, or a practical case study related to the topic of one of the missed seminars. If the student has not completed one of the graded tasks for the course (except the exam), the student’s grade is reduced accordingly. The exam will consist of two types of questions: multiple-choice questions and short open questions requiring short and precise answers.

Study Course Theme Plan

FULL-TIME

Part 1

Lecture

Modality	Location	Contact hours
On site	Auditorium	2

Topics

History of international law. System and sources of international law.

Lecture

Modality	Location	Contact hours
On site	Auditorium	2

Topics

Customary law. Subjects of international law.

Lecture

Modality	Location	Contact hours
On site	Auditorium	2

Topics

Origin and Termination of States. Succession of States.

Lecture

Modality	Location	Contact hours
On site	Auditorium	2

Topics

International Treaty Law.

Lecture

Modality	Location	Contact hours
On site	Auditorium	2

Topics

International Treaty Law (continued).

Lecture

Modality	Location	Contact hours
On site	Auditorium	2

Topics

International responsibility. State jurisdiction and immunities.

Lecture

Modality	Location	Contact hours
On site	Auditorium	2

Topics

Use of force and international dispute resolution. The role of UN in international law.

Lecture

Modality	Location	Contact hours
On site	Auditorium	2

Topics

Use of force and international dispute resolution. The role of UN in international law (continued).

Lecture

Modality	Location	Contact hours
On site	Auditorium	2

Topics

Humanitarian law and international criminal law. Introduction to Diplomatic Law.

Lecture

Modality	Location	Contact hours
On site	Auditorium	2

Topics

Humanitarian law and international criminal law. Introduction to Diplomatic Law (continued).

Lecture

Modality	Location	Contact hours
On site	Auditorium	2

Topics

Diplomatic protection. Introduction to Human Rights.

Lecture

Modality	Location	Contact hours
On site	Auditorium	2

Topics

Diplomatic protection. Introduction to Human Rights (continued).

Class/Seminar

Modality	Location	Contact hours
On site	Auditorium	2

Topics

Discussion about the role of international law in the modern world and case studies.

Class/Seminar

Modality	Location	Contact hours
On site	Auditorium	2

Topics

Discussion about the role of international law in the modern world and case studies.

Class/Seminar

Modality	Location	Contact hours
On site	Auditorium	2