Undergraduate Module Descriptor

LAW2144: International Law and the United Kingdom

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

Module Content

Syllabus Plan

The following syllabus plan is indicative and may be subject to change, including in response to current developments. Some topics may be delivered by guest lecturers.

A rules-based international order

  • introduction to the course
  • the UK and a rules-based international order

International law in the domestic setting

  • the effect of treaties and custom in English law
  • exercising jurisdiction
  • foreign States in English courts
  • judicial review of foreign policy

Security, Conflict and Competition

  • collective security and self-defence
  • counter-terrorism
  • nuclear deterrence
  • cyber operations
  • humanitarian intervention
  • competition in the gray zone

International cooperation, values and commons

  • membership in international organizations
  • promoting human rights
  • making law at the global level
  • climate change and the environment
  • protecting cultural property
  • law of the sea
  • managing international trade

Learning and Teaching

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

Scheduled Learning and Teaching ActivitiesGuided independent studyPlacement / study abroad
301200

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

CategoryHours of study timeDescription
Scheduled learning and teaching 2222 x 1 hour lectures
Scheduled learning and teaching 63 x 2 hour seminars
Scheduled learning and teaching 2Exeter Centre for International Law seminar
Guided independent study60reading and lecture preparation
Guided independent study40summative assessment preparation
Guided independent study 14formative assessment preparation
Guided independent study 6seminar preparation

Online Resources

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

http://www.exeter.ac.uk/ecil

@ExeterCIL

Other Learning Resources

J. Hunt, Foreign Secretary's speech at the United States Institute For Peace, 21 August 2018 (https://www.gov.uk/).

R. Reichold, Do Ministers have to comply with international law? Court of Appeal looks at legal challenge, 20 November 2018 (Law of Nations blog).

M. Weller, An International Use of Force in Salisbury?, 14 March 2018 (EJIL Talk blog).

J. Klabbers, International Law (2nd edn, 2017).

V. Lowe, International Law: A Very Short Introduction (2007).