Welcome to IS714/814: The role of law in the international system.
This course is an introduction to public international law and the role it plays in international relations.
Public international law is traditionally about the legal rules that govern interactions between states (as contrasted to private international law, which is about the interactions of individuals and corporations across borders). Increasingly, however, non-state actors and international organizations have gained a place in the international legal environment.
Our primary focus this semester will be on the legal dimension of international relations. Throughout this course, however, we will also be thinking about the politics and ethics of international law, as well as the relationship between law and power.
You will find extensive resources on this website to help you get through the large body of material we need to cover. The main navigation buttons are on the left. The "homepage" link will always bring you back here. The links on the right will take you to more specific resources. Note, in particular, the first link on the list, which will take you to some preparation notes for each class session.
Kurt Taylor Gaubatz - updated: 2011-02-06
