This module focuses on the institutional legal aspects of the activities displayed by international organisations and the relationship of these activities to the methods and sources of public international law. There will be a particular focus on the law of the United Nations and the function and powers of the International Court of Justice.

The learning outcomes of this module are:

·        Knowledge of the history and structure of the United Nations and its sister international organisations;

·        Understanding the various theories that explain why States engage in international law and organization;

·        Understanding the scope of the law of international organisations and its impact on the law of Member States;

·        Understanding the relationship between the law of international organisations and the formation of public international law;

·        To critically evaluate the function of the International Court of Justice within the international legal system;

·        To be able to critically evaluate the conduct of international organisations within the context of the rules of public international law.

·        The concept of International legal personality and the theory of international organisation within public international law. It will introduce the Charter of the United Nations and the Constitutional Structure of the United Nations; including the legal regulation of membership of the United Nations including admission, representation, and succession.

·        Structure and procedure of the General Assembly of the United Nations including resolutions, (binding) decisions, and recommendations and the practice of the General Assembly in the formation of public international law particularly relating to declarations of the General Assembly;

·        Structure and voting procedure in the Security Council, including an examination of the veto power of the Permanent members of the Council and how binding Security Council resolutions relate to the formation of public international law;

·        The International Court of Justice: problems of use and jurisdiction; its role in dispute settlement; and its advisory function and its relationship to the political organs of the United Nations;

·        Collective Security I: The activities of the Security Council and General Assembly in the regulation of peace and security and the ongoing debate concerning economic sanctions regimes.

·        Collective Security II: The activities of the Security Council in the legal regulation of the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and terrorism;

·        Regional organisations and their relationship with the UN, the issue of delegation of UN powers.

·        The process of reform in the United Nations; examining various reports recommending reform and an examination of the Peacebuilding Commission.

Teaching will follow a dual approach. In every session the lecturer will give some pointers highlighting the main issues that must be studied. This will be followed by a discussion with the students on the reading. Some questions will be given out by the lecturer to guide the discussion. Learning will be achieved not only by preparing the lectures but by some parallel activities that will foster the interest of the students for the topic. The students will also after the first two sessions be assigned presentations to prepare on topics on the course.