Course syllabus International Law and the Use of Force
Swedish name: Internationell rätt och våldsanvändning
Course code:
2OJ004
Valid from semester:
Autumn Term 2022
Education cycle:
Second cycle
Scope:
5.0 credits
Progression:
A1N
Grading scale:
Three-grade scale
Main field of study:
International Operational Law
Department:
Department of Political Science and Law
Subject:
International and Operational Law
Language of instruction:
The teaching is conducted in English.
Decided by:
Forsknings och utbildningsnämndens kursplaneutskott
Decision date:
2020-09-23
Entry requirements
Degree of Master of Laws or Degree of Bachelor of Science in Law with Specialisation in International Law or equivalent plus English B or English 6.
Course content and structure
The overall aim of the course is to give the student an advanced ability to investigate and critically evaluate how use of force is regulated in international law (jus ad bellum).
The course covers the prohibition of the use of force in international relations under international law, with its claimed exceptions. Topics covered include the definition of 'force' in international law, threats and minor uses of force, the right to self-defence and the use of self-defence against non-state actors, the use of force under the collective security regime, the use of force by regional organisations, humanitarian intervention and other debated exceptions to the prohibition.
During the course, the student will work with contemporary challenges for international law in the area, discuss current issues in the international discourse, and apply their knowledge to current situations.
Instruction is carried out as a combination of lectures and seminars intended to guide the students in their learning. The lectures are designed to provide key building blocks and frameworks for student learning. The lectures are combined with seminars, where the students consolidate and apply their knowledge to specific problems or issues in the subject. This combination of theory and application forms the basis for the final assessment and examination.
Type of Instruction
Seminars
Lectures
The course covers the prohibition of the use of force in international relations under international law, with its claimed exceptions. Topics covered include the definition of 'force' in international law, threats and minor uses of force, the right to self-defence and the use of self-defence against non-state actors, the use of force under the collective security regime, the use of force by regional organisations, humanitarian intervention and other debated exceptions to the prohibition.
During the course, the student will work with contemporary challenges for international law in the area, discuss current issues in the international discourse, and apply their knowledge to current situations.
Instruction is carried out as a combination of lectures and seminars intended to guide the students in their learning. The lectures are designed to provide key building blocks and frameworks for student learning. The lectures are combined with seminars, where the students consolidate and apply their knowledge to specific problems or issues in the subject. This combination of theory and application forms the basis for the final assessment and examination.
Type of Instruction
Seminars
Lectures
Objectives
Knowledge and understanding
Competence and skills
Judgement and approach
- explain the importance and development of the right to use force under international law, and be able to correctly identify and explain the key legal rules in this area.
Competence and skills
- apply the rules of international law regarding use of force and their exceptions to contemporary issues, and provide both verbal and written arguments for different solutions to such issues,
- critically analyse arguments for claimed exceptions to the prohibition on the use of force.
Judgement and approach
- independently and together with others, explain relate and evaluate complex international law problems related to the use of force.
Examination formats
On- Campus Examination
Scope: 3.5 Grading
Scale: Fail, Pass, Pass with Distinction
Assessment takes place through a written on-campus examination.
Participation in compulsory seminars
Scope: 1.5
Grading Scale: Fail, Pass
Assessment takes place through mandatory seminars.
Examinations submitted late will not be graded unless special circumstances exist and the examiner finds the reason acceptable.
The examiner may decide to allow supplementation in order for a passing grade to be achieved in the course. The supplementation shall be submitted no later than three working days after notification of the examination results and the decision on supplementation, unless special circumstances exist that are acceptable to the examiner.
Grading
Grades are set according to a three-grade scale: Pass with Distinction (VG), Pass(G) and Fail (U). Grading criteria are specified by no later than the start of the course.
To earn the grade Pass(P), the student must actively participate in mandatory seminars and earn a grade of Pass(P) on the written on-campus examination.
To earn the grade Pass with Distinction (PwD) in the course, the student must meet the requirement sfor Pass(P) and earn a grade of Pass with Distinction (PwD) on the written on-campus examination.
Restrictions in Number of Examinations
The number of examinations is not limited.
Scope: 3.5 Grading
Scale: Fail, Pass, Pass with Distinction
Assessment takes place through a written on-campus examination.
Participation in compulsory seminars
Scope: 1.5
Grading Scale: Fail, Pass
Assessment takes place through mandatory seminars.
Examinations submitted late will not be graded unless special circumstances exist and the examiner finds the reason acceptable.
The examiner may decide to allow supplementation in order for a passing grade to be achieved in the course. The supplementation shall be submitted no later than three working days after notification of the examination results and the decision on supplementation, unless special circumstances exist that are acceptable to the examiner.
Grading
Grades are set according to a three-grade scale: Pass with Distinction (VG), Pass(G) and Fail (U). Grading criteria are specified by no later than the start of the course.
To earn the grade Pass(P), the student must actively participate in mandatory seminars and earn a grade of Pass(P) on the written on-campus examination.
To earn the grade Pass with Distinction (PwD) in the course, the student must meet the requirement sfor Pass(P) and earn a grade of Pass with Distinction (PwD) on the written on-campus examination.
Restrictions in Number of Examinations
The number of examinations is not limited.
Transitional provisions
When the course is no longer given or when the course content has changed substantially, the student has the right to be examined once per semester during a three-term period in accordance with this syllabus.
Other regulations
The course cannot be included in a degree with another course whose content fully or partially corresponds to the content of this course.
The course is given within the Swedish Defence University’s Master’s Programme in International Operational Law, and may also be given as a freestanding course.
If a student has a decision from the Swedish Defence University regarding special educational support due to a disability, the examiner may decide on alternative forms of examination for the student.
On completion of the course, an evaluation will be conducted under the auspices of the course director and will serve as the basis for any changes to the course.
This is an edited version of the syllabus, created to transfer the original to the education database Ladok education planning. For originals, refer to the archive.
The course is given within the Swedish Defence University’s Master’s Programme in International Operational Law, and may also be given as a freestanding course.
If a student has a decision from the Swedish Defence University regarding special educational support due to a disability, the examiner may decide on alternative forms of examination for the student.
On completion of the course, an evaluation will be conducted under the auspices of the course director and will serve as the basis for any changes to the course.
This is an edited version of the syllabus, created to transfer the original to the education database Ladok education planning. For originals, refer to the archive.