M. Maass
IL/GSIS / Fall 2015
`
Yonsei University
Graduate School of International Studies
Syllabus
International Law
Fall 2015
Instructor
Matthias MAASS
Tel.: 2123 4719
Email: mmaass@yonsei.ac.kr
Office: NMH 607
Office hours: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 15:00-16:00 hrs. Please use the sign-up posted on my office door to
sign up in advance and in ascending order. If you have a scheduling conflict, please email me.
Time and Place
The course meets on Wednesdays, 15:00 to 18:00 hrs. in room TBA, New Millennium Hall, Yonsei
University, Shinchon campus.
Course Overview and Objectives
This course will introduce International Public Law to the novice and will put it in the context of
International Relations. This course will only rarely touch upon economic legal issues. Similarly, the course
is not meant to provide anywhere near sufficient legal training for future international lawyers. The overall
objective is for students to understand the ‘place’ of International Public Law in the broader context of
international affairs. Thus, the course is meant to provide a solid understanding of the legal dimension of
global and international affairs.
To that end, the course will explore the core concepts and structure of International Law that have
developed over time. These core concepts will be linked where appropriate with international politics to
demonstrate and illustrate the relevance of legal issues for the international political process.
1
M. Maass
IL/GSIS / Fall 2015
`
The course will combine lecture and seminar styles, but will be structured with the assumption in
mind that all participants will work through an International Public Law textbook and be thus prepared for
each class.
Requirements and Grading Policy
Exam: 30%
 Final exam: 30%
Participation: 40%
 Class participation: 25%
 Presentation: 15%
Research Paper: 30%
The final exam will test your factual knowledge; it will be primarily or exclusively multiple-choice. I
will pick exam questions from the reading and from our class discussions. An example multiple choice
question might be:
The evolution of International Law as a distinct discipline and legal system dates back to (roughly):
a. The Roman Empire
b. The Peace of Westphalia
c. The League of Nations
d. none of the above
In the research paper you will demonstrate your analytical skills, investigating a topic that falls
within the spectrum of this course in light of its international legal dimension. The paper’s word count
must be 5,000 words +/- 10%, and be double-spaced, standard academic formatting. All sources must be
well documented. Online-based sources are allowed only to a maximum of 25% of all your sources.
Preliminary related assignments (see the semester plan below) will factor into your research paper grade.
Finally, the paper must meet academic standards and show sufficient English proficiency.
Student presentations will give a synopsis of the semester-long research project (the research
paper’s). Each presentation will up to 20 minutes and followed by a Q&A session of about 10 minutes.
I consider regular class participation a
given. You can miss two classes; any additional
absences must have emergency character and the
reason must be well documented. Please note that
presence is not the same as participation.
2
M. Maass
IL/GSIS / Fall 2015
`
Readings
The course will use the this textbook:
Martin Dixon. Textbook on International Law. Oxford: Oxford UP, 20076.
This textbook is available at the Yonsei libraries. It is widely available for
purchase: copies are available at the Yonsei U bookstore or can be ordered
online; older editions can be used, too.
We will be using a good amount of material from the following books, too. However, since it is not
easily available in Korea, selected readings have been added to the course reading pack. However, I
strongly encourage the purchase of these books:

John E. Noyes, Laura A. Dickinson, and Mark
International Law Stories. edited by Paul
Foundation Press, 2007. This book is
purchase or can be loaned at the library.
W.
Janis,
eds.
Caron. New York:
available online for
 Edwin Egede, and Peter Sutch. The Politics of International Law
and International Justice. Edingburgh: Edingburgh UP, 2013.
A reading
the
pack
New
with required readings will be available at the in-house (i.e. in
Millennium Hall building) copy shop for purchase.
3
M. Maass
IL/GSIS / Fall 2015
`
Semester Plan
I Baselines
Week 1
1.
2.
3.
4.
Welcome
Logistics and Administrative Matters
Introduction to the Subject
Research projects: brainstorming
2 Sept. 2015
Required Readings:
1. Noyes, chapter 11 (“The Nicaragua Case”)
Suggested Readings / Overviews / Reference Works:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Clapham, Andrew. Brierly's Law of Nations. An Introduction Tothe Role of International Law in International Relations.
Oxford: Oxford UP, 2012.
Wolfrum, Rüdiger, ed. The Max Planck Encyclopedia of Public International Law. Oxford: Oxford UP, 2012.
Fassbender, Bardo, and Anne Peters, eds. The Oxford Handbook of the History of International Law. Oxford: Oxford UP,
2012.
Crawford, James. Brownlie's Principles of Public International Law. 8th ed. New York, NY: Oxford University Press, 2012.
Week 2
1. Is IL “law?”
2. International Public Law
and International Politics
General research
topic due
9 Sept. 2015
Required Readings:
1. Noyes, chapter 8 (Hamdan v. Rumsfeld: Domestic Enforcement of International Law”).
2. Dixon, chapter 1
3. Leo Gross. "The Peace of Westphalia, 1648 - 1948." The American Journal of International Law 42
(1948): 20 - 41. (Access it through JStor [YU Library journal database].) Also, have a look at the
treaty: The Treaty of Westphalia (1648). (Available online at
http://www.yale.edu/lawweb/avalon/westphal.htm.) See especially articles LXIV, LXV, LXVII and
LXXI, LXXIII, LXXVI, CI, CXVII.
4. Henkin: “Law is Politcs,” pp. 1-2
Suggested Readings:
1. Egede and Sutch, ch. 2
2. Roth, Brad. Sovereign Equality and Moral Disagreement. Oxford: Oxford UP, 2011.
3. Simma, Bruno, Daniel-Erasmus Khan, Georg Nolte, and Andreas Paulus, eds. The Charter of the
United Nations, a Commentary. 3 ed. Oxford: Oxford UP, 2012.
4
M. Maass
IL/GSIS / Fall 2015
`
II Traditional International Law
Week 3
1. Sources of Law
2. Law of Treaties
Refined
research
topic due
16 Sept.
2015
3. Politics of Treaties
Required Readings:
1. Dixon, chapters 2, 3
2. Noyes, ch. 6 (“The Paquete Habana: CIL as Part of Our Law”)
3. UN Charter Article 38
4. The Arms Trade Treaty
a. http://www.un.org/disarmament/ATT/
b. http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/un-member-states-fail-to-reachagreement-on-treaty-to-regulate-global-arms-trade/2012/07/27/gJQAkli2EX_story.html
5. Landmine Treaty / “Ottawa Process”
a. Please do some online search with the above key words.
Suggested Readings:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Egede & Sutch, ch. 1
Pauwelyn, Joost, Ramses Wessel, and Jan Wouters, eds. Informal International Lawmaking. Oxford: Oxford UP, 2012.
Venzke, Ingo. How Interpretation Makes International Law. On Semantic Change and Normative Twists. Oxford: Oxford UP,
2012.
Orakhelashivili, Alexander. Peremptory Norms in International Law. Oxford Monographs in International Law. Oxford:
Oxford UP, 2006.
Week 4
1. IL and
National Law
2. Research
briefing
23 Sept. 2015
Required Readings:
1. Dixon, chapter 4
2. Noyes, ch. 12 (“The LaGrand Case: A Story of Many Miscommunications”).
3. Eric Posner, John C. Yoo. “Rogue Court.” (WSJ)
Suggested Readings:
1.
Shelton, Dinah, ed. International Law and Domestic Legal Systems. Incorporation, Transformation, and Persuasion. Oxford:
Oxford UP, 2011.
5
M. Maass
Week 5
IL/GSIS / Fall 2015
`
1. Statehood
2. Recognition
3. Personality
Annotated working
bibliography due
30 Sept. 2015
Required Readings:
1. Dixon, chapter 5
2. Noyes, ch. 10 (“The Reparation for Injuries Case”)
Suggested Readings:
1.
2.
Crawford, James. The Creation of States in International Law. 2 ed. Oxford: Oxford UP, 2006.
Egede & Sutch, ch. 3
Week 6
1. Jurisdiction
2. Sovereignty
Preliminary Table
of Contents due
Required Readings:
1. Dixon, chapter 6
2. Mayo v Satan
3. Glenn Frankel. “Politics Unravels Belgian War-Crimes
Law.” (WSJ)
Suggested Readings:
Ker-Lindsay, James. The Foreign Policy of Counter Secession. Oxford: Oxford UP, 2012.
6
7 Oct. 2015
M. Maass
Week 7
IL/GSIS / Fall 2015
`
1. Law of the Seas
2. (Air)space Law
Complete Research
proposal due
14 Oct. 2015
Required Readings:
1. Dixon, chapter 8.
2. http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2012/08/01/2012080101537.html
3. “ASEAN issues South China Sea statement”
Suggested Readings:
1.
2.
Klein, Natalie. Maritime Security and the Law of the Sea. Oxford: Oxford UP, 2012.
Diederiks - Verschoor, Isabella Henrietta Philepina. An Introduction to Air Law. 4 ed. Deventer/Netherlands: Kluwer
Law and Taxation Publishers, 1991.
3.
Oduntan, Gbenga. Sovereignty and Jurisdiction in the Airspace and Outer Space, Legal Criteria for Spatial
Delimitation. Routledge Research in International Law. London: Routledge, 2012.
4.
McDougal, Myres S., Harold D. Lasswell, and Ivan A. Vlasic. Law and Public Order in Space. New Haven: Yale UP,
1963.
5.
Egede & Sutch, ch. 8
Week 8 Attendance of KISA convention at Korea Foundation downtown office. This
is the make-up class for the 21 October class. Attendance is mandatory.
Have a look at KISA at www.kisanet.org
Week 8
no classes (midterm week) – make-up was given on 16 & 17 October 2015
Week 9
1. State
Oral update on research project
Responsibility (in class)
2. Immunities
16 & 17 Oct.
2015
21 Oct. 2015
28 October. 2015
Required Readings:
1. Dixon, chapter 9, 7
2. Egede & Sutch, ch. 6
Suggested Readings:
1.
2.
(state responsibility:) Nollkaemper, André. National Courts and the International Rule of Law. Oxford: Oxford UP, 2012.
Sir Ivor Roberts (ed.). Satow’s Diplomatic Practice. 20116.
3.
4.
Foakes, Joanne. The Position of Heads of State and Senior Officials in International Law. Oxford: Oxford UP, 2013.
5.
Lutz, Ellen, and Caitlin Reiger, eds. Prosecuting Heads of State. Cambridge: Cambridge UP, 2009.
O'Keefe, Roger, and Christian J. Tams, eds. The United Nations Convention on Jurisdictional Immunities of States and
Their Property, a Commentary. Oxford: Oxford UP, 2013.
7
M. Maass
IL/GSIS / Fall 2015
`
Week 10
The UN as a constitution of an
international community
4 Nov. 2015
Required Readings:
1. Egede & Sutch, ch. 4
III Modern International Law
Week 11
1. Human Rights Law
2. International Criminal
Law
11 Nov. 2015
Required Readings:
1. Dixon, chapter 12.
2. Noyes, chapter 4 (“The Soering Case”)
3. Noyes, ch. 1 (“Nuremberg and Its Legacy”).
Suggested Readings:
1.
2.
Egede & Sutch, ch. 5
Tams, Christian J., and James Sloan, eds. The Development of International Law by the International Court of Justice. Oxford:
Oxford UP, 2013.
Week 12
Week 13
Paper Presentations
Papers are due today
(as hard copies)
Paper Presentations
18 Nov. 2015
25 Nov. 2015
8
M. Maass
Week 14
IL/GSIS / Fall 2015
`
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Peaceful Dispute Settlement
Coercion
Use of Force
Preemption
Drone Wars
2 December 2015
Required Readings:
1. Dixon, chapters 10, 11
2. Noyes, chapter 9, (“The Caroline”)
3. Egede & Sutch 7
4. “Making the Moral Case for Drones”
5. Kimberly Dozier. “Drones, viruses - new weapons of shadow wars.”
Suggested Readings:
1.
2.
3.
Zimmermann, Andreas, Karin Oellers-Fram, Christian Tomuschat, and Christian J. Tams, eds. The Stature of the
International Court of Justice, a Commentary. 2 ed. Oxford: Oxford UP, 2012.
Salinas de Frias, Ana Maria, Katja Samuel, and Nigel White, eds. Counter - Terrorism. International Law and Practice.
Oxford: Oxford UP, 2012.
Stevens, Kenneth R. Border Diplomacy. The Caroline and Mcleod Affairs in Anglo - American - Canadian Relations, 1837 1842. Tuscaloosa, AL: The University of Alabama Press, 1989.
Week 14
Final Exam
9 Dec. 2015
... and Happy Holidays!
9