Introduction to International & Comparative Law 

28 Sessions (14 weeks)

Syllabus

1. Making sense of International Law
   1. Discussion about current events dealing with international law
2. States as the main pillars of international law
   1. Montevideo Convention
   2. International norms on the responsibility of state organs
3. State recognition: Importance and effects in international law
   1. Accordance with international law of the unilateral declaration of independence in respect of Kosovo, International Court of Justice, 22 July 2010
4. Special assignment: Micronations
   1. http://money.cnn.com/2015/09/03/news/how-to-run-a-micronation/
5. Non-state actors: Responsibility for violation of international law
   1. Kiobel et al v. Royal Dutch Petroleum Co. et al 133 S.Ct. 1659 (2013)
6. International organizations: Responsibility and legal personality of the United Nations
   1. Reparation of Injuries Suffered in Service of the United Nations, Advisory Opinion, 1949 International Court of Justice 174 (Apr. 11)
7. Treaties I: Negotiation, and conclusion under United States law
   1. Statute of Rome
   2. Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties
   3. Clinton's signature of Statute of Rome
   4. Bolton's withdrawal of signature of Treaty of Rome
8. Treaties II: International judicial enforcement
   1. Mexico v. United States (Avena, and 51 other Mexican nationals)
   2. Vienna Convention on Consular Relations
9. Treaties III: Judicial enforcement in the United States
   1. Medellín v. Texas, 552 S.Ct.____(2008)
10. Treaties IV: Termination
    1. Kucinich v. Bush
    2. Brexit
11. International courts I: the International Court of Justice
    1. Costa Rica v. Nicaragua
    2. Iran v. United States of America
12. International courts II: the International Criminal Court
    1. Dusko Tadic case
13. International courts III: the Permanent Court of Arbitration
    1. Philippines v. China
14. International courts IV: Investor-State Arbitration
    1. ICSID case
15. Mid-term review
16. Hurdles faced by international law in United States courts I: Foreign Sovereign Immunity
    1. Republic of Austria v. Maria V. Altmann
17. Hurdles faced by international law in United States courts II: Act of State Doctrine
    1. Banco Nacional de Cuba v. Sabbatino
18. Special assignment: Hurdles faced by international law in United States courts III: Fraud, money laundering, and the extraterritorial application of United States law
    1. RJR Nabisco v. European Community, 579 US_____(2016)
19. The use of force: Limits
    1. Lybia and the U.N. Security Council
20. Self-defense in international law
    1. Nicaragua v. United States of America
    2. Caroline case
21. Modern warfare:
    1. Israel targeted killings
22. Human rights in the Americas
    1. López Mendoza v. Venezuela
23. Human rights in Europe
    1. Soering v. United Kingdom
24. Torture
    1. Filartiga v. Peña Irala
25. Piracy
    1. United States of America v. Dire et al 680 F.3d 446 (May 23, 2012)
26. Special assignment: Enemy combatants and prisoners of war
    1. Hamdan v. Rumsfeld
27. Space law
1. TBA
28. Final review