LWMCIL: Contemporary Issues in International Law

Module code: LWMCIL

Module provider: School of Law

Credits: 20

Level: Postgraduate Masters

When you'll be taught: Semester 2

Module convenor: Dr Alex Gilder, email: a.f.gilder@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2024/5

Available to visiting students: No

Talis reading list: No

Last updated: 21 May 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

Contemporary Issues in International Law will enable students to investigate both macro-level issues of how the international legal system addresses crises such as insecurity or climate change and micro-level practical case studies where students are able to appreciate international law in action. Not focusing on specific branches of international law, the content on this module evolves year on year to cover contemporary ‘flashpoints’ and reflect teaching staff expertise. Topics could include a range of issues such as insecurity, cyberspace, global health, sustainable development, and transitional justice. The module will offer interdisciplinary perspectives, key case studies that are relevant to current global challenges, and coverage of the contemporary ‘big questions’ in international law. 

Contemporary Issues in International Law offers students the opportunity to examine a number of key areas where international law is being challenged by - or is adapting in an attempt to meet the challenges of - the modern world. The module aims to convey substantive and theoretical understandings of the aspects of international law covered. At the same time, students are encouraged to interact with highly political questions on a legal level and question not just what the law is, but what the law should be, with regard to the controversial ‘flashpoints’ studied. The aim is to increase students’ awareness of the challenges that face the implementation of international law as well as concerns from outside the discipline. Students will benefit from both interdisciplinary perspectives and case studies of how international law, and the relevant political machinery, operates in practice. This module is intended to complement LWMIIA (Introduction to International Law). 

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to: 

1. Demonstrate both a substantive and a theoretical understanding of the aspects of international law covered 
2. Identify the legal context and framework of the contemporary issues covered 
3. Analyse contemporary questions of international relations and politics by using tools of legal research developed in the preparation of seminars, written assignment and class discussion 

Module content

The module provides an in-depth exposition of topics which traditionally are not examined in detail in core international law modules, but which are all crucial issues at the current time. Teaching staff will provide unique perspectives on issues of global concern. Topics may include: the place of human security in the international legal system, international law’s responses to cyberspace, the maintenance of international peace and security by the UN, case studies on transitional justice in practice, the role of international law in global health, internal and cross-border displacement, fundamental rights and the international legal obligations of business, and interlinkages between the international economic system and sustainable development.  

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

The module will be taught by 22 hours of seminars and 8 hours of blended learning activities 

Study hours

At least 22 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 50% to pass this module.

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

Assessments with numerical marks

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of three working days;
• the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three working days of the deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: /cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf

You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

Essay plan, 2 pages

Reassessment

Additional costs