Course Syllabus of Zhongnan University of Economics and Law
Course Title: International Institutional Law | ||||
Course Code | 41063006 | Semester | 1 | |
Teaching Hours | 48 | Credits | 3 | |
Prerequisites | None | |||
Instructor Information | ||||
Name | Jiang He | jianghe@zuel.edu.cn | ||
Institute | ZNUEL, International Education School | |||
Applicable Object | International Students | |||
Course Objectives | By the end of the semester, students will be able to: l Understand and explain the basic structure of key international organizations and laws; l Describe different explanations for why IOs and laws are formed and why or why not countries choose to follow them, with a strong basis in different international law theories; l Discuss and debate key issues in several IOs and how the handling of these issues might be improved; l Describe the strengths and weaknesses of IOs in international law and global governance. | |||
Course Description (200 words) | From the United Nations to the European Union and WTO, international organizations (IOs) play an increasing role in law and politics at the international level. In this course, students will familiarize themselves with the basic theories of international organization, explore different theoretical explanation for why international organizations rise and develop, consider why states would choose to comply with international organizations, consider the influence of ideas and norms on international politics, and finally, debate to what extent IOs really affect world politics. Students will also be exposed to three IOs that play a major role in world politics and economy: The United Nations, the European Union, and the World Trade Organization. For each organization, students will learn the history and structure of the IO, discuss the legal system of the IO and understand their significance in the development of international law. By combining theories with real world examples, students will better understand the nature of international organizations and their influence on international law. | |||
Assessment Methods | Class presence 20% This assessment is subject to the attendance requirements. Participation in class discussions 20% Participation marks are based on a student’s contribution to class discussions. Marks reflect the quality and the quantity of a student’s participation. In preparation for the weekly seminar, students are expected to do the assigned readings. Final Exam 60% | |||
Textbooks and References | Jan Klabbers, An Introduction to International Institutional Law (second edition), Cambridge University Press, 2009. Karns, Margaret P. and Karen A. Mingst, International Organizations: The Politics and Processes of Global Governance. Lynne Rienner Publishers, 2004. ASIL Guide to International Organizations (American Society of International Law): http://www.asil.org/resource/intorg1.htm United Nations Resources, http://www.law.du.edu/index.php/library > under “Research,” click More > Subject Guides > Foreign and International Research > United Nations Resources. Encyclopedia of Associations – International Organizations through LexisNexis: http://www.law.du.edu/forms/library/count2.cfm?LinkURL=http://www.lexisnexis.com/lawschool/ Schechter, Michael G. Historical Dictionary of International Organizations. Lanham, Md.: Scarecrow Press, 1998. United Nations: Law, Policies and Practice. New, Revised English Edition. 2v. Boston: Nijhoff, 1995 Guide to the Archives of Intergovernmental Organizations: http://www.unesco.org/archives/guide/. Hajnal, Peter I., Ed. International Information: Documents, Publications, and Electronic Information of International Organizations. Englewood, CO: Libraries Unlimited, 2001. Research Guide to League of Nations Documents and Publications: http://www.un.org/Depts/dhl /resguide/. Global Governance: a Review of Multilateralism and International Organizations. International Organizations Law Review, Brill, 2004 Max Planck Yearbook of United Nations Law. London: Kluwer, 1998. Yearbook of International Organizations. Brussels: Union of International Associations. Alvarez, José E. International Organizations as Law-Makers. New York: Oxford University Press, 2005. Bennett, A. LeRoy and James K. Oliver. International Organizations: Principles and Issues. 7th ed.,. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall, 2002. Pease, Kelly-Kate S. International Organizations: Perspectives on Governance in the Twenty-first Century.. 2nd ed. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall, 2003. Steinberg, Richard H., Ed. The Greening of Trade Law: International Trade Organizations and Environmental Issues. Lanham: Rowman & Littlefield, 2002. | |||
Course planning | ||||
Chapter 1
| Concept of international organization Topic1: Concept of international organization Topic2: Major characteristics of international organization Topic3: Typology of international organizations | |||
Chapter 2
| Rising and development of international organization Topic1: Cooperation and organization Topic2: Congress of Westphalia and Vienna and nation state Topic3: International conference and international organization Topic4: Developments in the 19th and 20th centuries | |||
Chapter 3 | Legal personality of international organization Topic1: Concept of international organization legal personality Topic2: Personification and development of legal beings Topic3: Legal status of international organization in international law Topic4: Legal status of international organization in domestic law Topic5: International organization's capacity of bearing legal responsibility | |||
Chapter 4 | Internal structure and legal system Topic1: Membership of international organization Topic2: Internal structure and its function Topic3: Decision making mechanism | |||
Chapter 5 | Dispute settlement Topic1: Introduction to international organization disputes Topic2: Disputes between international organization and state or between Ios Topic3: Disputes between MSs before international organization Topic4: Staff/employment disputes Topic5: Disputes settlement in civil sense at national level Topic6: Rules in exhaustion of local remedies | |||
Chapter 6 | United Nations system Topic1: Introduction to UN Topic2: Principal organs of UN Topic3: Special agency in UN system Topic4: Definition; characteristics; system of UN special agency; major functions | |||
Chapter 7 | European Union Topic1: Founding and development of EU Topic2: Characteristics and sources of EU Law Topic3: Major organs of EU Topic4: constitutional treaty and constitutionalization | |||
Chapter 8 | World Trade Organization Topic1: From GATT to WTO Topic2: Legal system of WTO Topic3: Basic principles of WTO law Topic4: DSB of WTO | |||
