Postgraduate Module Descriptor

LAWM037: The Use of Force in International Law

This module descriptor refers to the 2021/2 academic year.

Module Aims

The module aims to equip you with a detailed and critical understanding of the legal regime governing the use of force in international relations. By studying the law within its strategic context, the module also aims to provide you with an understanding of the challenges posed by the regulation of warfare and the limitations of international law.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
This module's assessment will evaluate your achievement of the ILOs listed here - you will see reference to these ILO numbers in the details of the assessment for this module.
On successfully completing the programme you will be able to:
Module-Specific Skills	1. demonstrate comprehensive knowledge of the rules of international law governing the use of force, including detailed knowledge of the core legal concepts applicable in this area; 2. demonstrate critical understanding of the contemporary challenges facing the prohibition of the use of force in international law;
Discipline-Specific Skills	3. develop, apply and critically assess international legal arguments, using a wide range of appropriate primary materials and advanced scholarship; 4. demonstrate critical understanding of the relationship between the different branches and sources of rules of law, including potential norm conflicts, and between legal and non-legal considerations impacting on legal argument and advice;
Personal and Key Skills	5. process and evaluate effectively a substantial body of complex and sometimes contradictory legal and non-legal information; 6. communicate and engage in debate effectively and accurately. 7. work independently, within a limited time frame, to complete a specified task.

Module Content

Syllabus Plan

Whilst the module’s precise content may vary from year to year, it is envisaged that the syllabus will cover some or all of the following topics:

Just war and the jus ad bellum
The prohibition of the use of force
Self-defence: principles and elements
Self-defence against non-state actors
Anticipatory self-defence
Humanitarian intervention and R2P
Collective security and the UN Security Council
Enforcement action under the UN Charter
Criminalization of aggressive war

Learning and Teaching

This table provides an overview of how your hours of study for this module are allocated:

Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities	Guided independent study	Placement / study abroad
36	264	0

...and this table provides a more detailed breakdown of the hours allocated to various study activities:

Category	Hours of study time	Description
Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activity	33	Seminars (11 x 3 hours per week). The main teaching method for the module consists of weekly seminars requiring active participation by all students under guidance of the module convenor.
Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activity	3	Attendance at relevant events organised by the Exeter Centre for International Law.
Guided Independent Study	20	Preparation of individual and group seminar presentations.
Guided Independent Study	179	Assigned seminar readings.
Guided Independent Study	25	Preparation of the formative essay.
Guided Independent Study	40	Preparation of the summative assessment.

Online Resources

This module has online resources available via ELE (the Exeter Learning Environment).

United Nations: www.un.org/en/

International Court of Justice: http://www.icj-cij.org/homepage/index.php?lang=en

HeinOnline: http://heinonline.org/

Opinio Juris (blog): http://opiniojuris.org/

EJIL:Talk! (blog): http://www.ejiltalk.org/

Just Security (blog): https://www.justsecurity.org/