Law of the United Nations
Full course description
This central aim of this course is to explore the practice of international law within the framework of the United Nations (UN). In the first weeks, students will study the history of the UN, its structure, and some foundational questions about the UN as an organisation and its constituent instrument, the UN Charter. In the rest of the course, students explore the law and practice of three of the UN’s principal organs: the General Assembly (UNGA), the Security Council (UNSC), and the International Court of Justice (ICJ). With respect to each of these organs, this course examines the basics rules and procedures that govern their function, considers the practice of these organs, and seeks to encourage students to reflect on their role in contemporary international law.
Course objectives
By the end of this course, students should be able to:
- Understand the history, nature, and structure of the UN.
- Explain the different kinds of entities that make up the UN and understand the relationships between them.
- Work with the core legal texts of the UN, including the UN Charter and the ICJ Statute. Students should also be able to solve case studies on the basis of such texts.
- Analyse the practice of the UNGA, UNSC, and ICJ.
- Critically reflect on the strengths and weakness of the UN and its constituent organs, and their place in the international legal system.
Prerequisites
None
Recommended prior knowledge
Basic knowledge of Public International Law.
Recommended reading
There is no core textbook for this course. Reading will be provided on Canvas at the start of the course.
The following statute book is recommended: M Evans, International Law Documents, (OUP). The latest edition is the 16th edition.