Topics discussed in this course include (1) the nature of international law and the international system, (2) sources of international law, (3) the law of treaties, (4) international law and national law/EU law, (5) personality, statehood and recognition, (6) jurisdiction and sovereignty, (7) state responsibility and immunities, (8) international organizations, (9) use of force, collective security and peacekeeping, and (10) peaceful settlement of disputes and international human rights law.

Upon completion of this course students will be able:

• to autonomously analyse and assess cases governed by international law in areas covered by the course (see above);
• in particular, to properly apply the acquired knowledge to case solutions;
• and to understand and assess the implications of both current and future developments in the field of international law.

Moreover, this course promotes students' skills:

• to autonomously identify and effectively synthesise problems, both orally and in writing, and to provide for adequate solutions;
• to apply acquired knowledge in practice;
• and to independently develop acquired knowledge further, thereby allowing them to effectively keep pace with new legal developments.

Lecture, case studies, guided self-study of selected textbook chapters.

Students' performance will be assessed based on two written exams, i.e. a midterm exam (40 minutes; 30 per cent of the overall grade) and a final exam (80 minutes; 70 per cent of the overall grade), as well as on their active participation in class (max. additional 10 per cent to compensate for deficiencies in the written exams).

The final exam will take place in the last unit of this course.

Please note that this course is primarily aimed at students of law.

During the registration period free positions are filled according to the "first-come, first-served" principle.
After the registration period, students from the waiting list who don't yet have a valid registration will be assigned to available places in the specific courses based on their progress in their studies.

Attendance is compulsory. Students are allowed to miss two entire classes though (no excuse required). Note however that students who miss the first class without prior notification to the course convenors will be deregistered from the course.

Questions should be sent to sekretariat.vranes@wu.ac.at;

This course is held in English. Questions in the written exams may be answered in German as well.

The final exam will take place in the last unit of this course (18 December 2018).