LAW 409 - International Law

This survey course introduces students to the basic subjects, processes, and problems of contemporary international law. The course begins with an exploration of the nature and sources of international law; the traditional role of states in international law formation; and the burgeoning role of international organizations and nongovernmental organizations in transnational legal processes. Attention then shifts to the relationship between international law and U.S. law, including the principles that govern (and impede) the application of international law in the United States. The course devotes sustained attention to several important subfields of international law, including principles of international jurisdiction, sovereign rights to natural resources, international human rights, international criminal law, and the laws of war. Along the way, class members are invited to grapple with several enduring critiques of the international legal system.