International Law

Designed for non-lawyers, this course delves into the pressing challenges of international law governing the actions of states, international organizations, multinationals, and civil society. It highlights how we can turn internal and transnational issues into cooperative efforts for mutual benefits in today's world. The course strengthens participants' analytical and debate skills, while providing practical tools and up-to-date knowledge of international law methodologies. This equips them with the necessary skills and understanding to contribute meaningfully to solutions for current global crises.

Students will engage directly with current, critical global issues such as the ongoing plastic waste negotiations in the INC, the UN climate change conference COP 28 in Dubai, and the new EU regulatory framework on artificial intelligence. We use case studies drawn from urgent, real-world scenarios – like the South China Sea crisis, countermeasures against cyber operations, Elon Musk’s SpaceX and Starshield program, the UN's Digital Platforms Code of Conduct proposal, the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) on the Blue Nile, WTO disputes on intellectual property rights, the ICJ opinion on the Chagos Archipelago, and the enhanced role of the International Criminal Court – as key learning tools. Key research areas, such as artificial intelligence, climate induced migration, nuclear security, transnational organized crime, and prosecution of crimes against humanity with hybrid courts, will be explored.

In this course, we employ several strategies to foster a cooperative learning environment. These include study teams for collaborative out-of-class review, 'jigsaw activities' that transform students into topic experts, 'think-pair-share' activities promoting discussion, and role-playing simulations to make learning interactive and practically relevant.