PSC 339LEC—International Law

This course will examine how the international legal system is structured, with a particular focus on how it serves to shape international relations. While this course will introduce students to several key legal concepts, its primary focus is on how politics and law interact in the context of the international political system. In substantive terms, the course will cover international laws relating to human rights, trade, and war using a variety of primary (e.g., treaties) and secondary materials. Students will learn how international law is made, explore how national governments and national courts (e.g., the Supreme Court of the United States) often resist the dictates of international courts, and understand the barriers to enforcement that the international legal system often face.