OVERVIEW

The course of International Law is dedicated to the study of the rules of public international law, through the study of the subjects of international law, the sources of international law, rules on international responsability, immunity, use of force and resolution of international disputes. 

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

At the end of the course, students will acquire the methodological tools and general skills of public international law, will be able to understand and analyse current legal issues in international and transnational relations, and will be able to independently develop possible solutions to open questions.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

In particular, the course of International Law is aimed at equipping students with the fundamental notions on public international law, with particulare reference to contemporary challenges and topical issues, with particular reference to: subjects of international law; sources of international law; the mutual coordination of sources of international law and the adaptation of national law. The course will also focus on the main themes of contemporary public international law, aiming at equipping students with solid juridic notions, an adequate comprehension and a critical evaluation on the following issues: International responsability; State sovereignity and immunity; Prevention and resolution of international disputes; Use of force in international law.

The teaching fits into the learning objectives of the degree program, as it contributes to the training needed in the study and work activities related to politics and administration, in the legal disciplines. In addition, the teaching contributes to the basic knowledge for (a) the management, development and dissemination of political and institutional communication; (b) the reading, understanding and interpretation of current social and political phenomena, with possible development of intervention strategies; (c) the management of national, European and international projects.

Individual study, as well as the frequency and partecipation to the proposed training activities will enable the student to:

• Remember, identify and comprehend the subjects and fundamental principles which regulate the structure and the functioning of the international community;
• Identify and analyze the sources of international law, and comprehend and apply the rules deriving from it;
• Comprehend and analyze the mutual coordination of the sources of international law, and the adaptation of national law to international law;
• Comprehend and critically evaluate the fundamental issues of contemporary public international law, with particular reference to international responsibility, State sovereignity, immunity, prevention and resolution of international disputes, use of force in international law;
• Identify and apply the rules concerning the above mentioned issues, also through the analysis of specific cases;
• Identify, comprehend and apply the rules concerning the law applicabile to cross-border matters and the functioning of foreign laws in the Italian legal system;
• Read and critically examine, with an autonomous assessment, scientific publications on public and private international law, decisions of international courts, of national courts and of the Constitutional Court;
• Express in an appropriate legal language.
• On a voluntary basis, participation in presentation activities is intended to enable people to acquire team working and public speaking skills.

PREREQUISITES

None

TEACHING METHODS

The course consists of lectures (36 hours / 6 CFU) and is delivered in person and through the TEAMS platform (blended). Recordings will depend on the teaching methods adopted during the course. 
For the  TEAMS code, see the aulaweb page of the course.
During the lessons the main theoretical notions of public international law will be presented and analyzed, but examples and practical cases will also be proposed and discussed. Texts of cases and regulatory texts of particular relevance and usefulness for understanding the topics covered will be published in Aulaweb.

On a voluntary basis, alongside theoretical lectures, interested persons (individually or in groups of two) will be able to present rulings assigned by the lecturer to deepen general topics and develop team working and public speaking skills, obtaining a specific open badge in 'transversal skills'.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

Public international law: institutions; subjects of international law; sources of international law; coordination of sources of international law and transposition within the domestic legal system.

Substantive international law: immunities; use of forse; international wrongdoins; State responsibility; settlement of international disputes.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

The texts of the case law and the regulatory texts subject to specific discussion and analysis will be available on the Aulaweb platform.

Textbooks and reading materials for students attending classes:
Aa.Vv., Istituzioni di diritto internazionale, 6th ed., Giappichelli, Turin, 2021, chapters I, II, III, V, VII, VIII.

Textbooks and any reading materials for students not attending classes:
Aa.Vv., Istituzioni di diritto internazionale, 6th ed., Giappichelli, Turin, 2021, chapters I to VIII

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

Exam Board

FRANCESCA MAOLI (President)

ILARIA QUEIROLO

STEFANO DOMINELLI (President Substitute)

LAURA CARPANETO (Substitute)

FRANCESCO PESCE (Substitute)

LESSONS

LESSONS START

Lessons will start within the week of 10 february 2025

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

The exam is oral and takes place in person: it usually consists of three questions on any topic of the course.

Students who attend classes in person will be offered the opportunity to take a written exam instead of the oral one. In the written test, the student usually answers 30 multiple choice questions in about 30 minutes, without the possibility of consulting any text.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

he oral and the written exam aim at verify the effective knowledge and the acquisition by the student of the teoric notions explained in the course, as well as his/her ability to comprehend and apply the rules of international law concerning specific issues. Through questions of teoretical and practical nature, it will be verified wether the student is able to:

- remember, identify, distinguish and comprehend the subjects and rules disciplinating the structure and the functioning of the international community;

- identify, comprehend and apply the fundamental rules concerning international relations;

- identify, comprehend and apply the rules concerning the law applicabile to cross-border matters and the functioning of foreign laws in the Italian legal system;

- identify and define legal concepts, comprehending the legal language.

Exam schedule

FURTHER INFORMATION

Students are encouraged to subscrive to the Aulaweb page of the course to access relevant information and materials. 

Students who have duly filed a certification of DSA, disability or other special educational needs are advised to contact both the contact person Prof. Aristide Canepa (aristide.canepa@unige.it) and the lecturer at the beginning of the course, in order to agree on teaching and examination methods that, while respecting the teaching objectives, take into account individual learning methods and provide suitable compensatory tools.