The goal of these courses is to understand the origins, purposes and shortcomings of international law and international institutions. In particular, a great emphasis will be placed on peering beneath the surface of legal reasoning and of formal institutional arrangements in an effort to understand the political forces at work. Different and contrasting analytical approaches, drawn from international relations theory, will be employed to answer a variety of questions that relate to specific issues. When and how are sovereign states constrained by international law? Why do they belong to international organizations? In what ways are human rights part of international law, and what are the implications for state sovereignty? How do international law and international institutions help countries cooperate over environmental problems? By the end of the semester students will have looked for answers to these and many other, related, questions.
PS 431 International Law and Organization.
Assignments
Master of International Studies