University of Ghana

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LEGON CENTRE FOR INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS AND DIPLOMACY

SEMESTER ONE, 2024/2025 ACADEMIC YEAR
COURSE OUTLINE

INTA 707: CONTEMPORARY ISSUES IN INTERNATIONAL LAW

CREDITS: 3 HOURS
Teaching Mode: Synchronous & Asynchronous

Course Delivery Schedule

Week/Date Topic Comments
ONE There will be no class. Instead, students develop a This is a no class
synthesis paper from articles provided. The objective day. Students
of this assignment is to encourage students to receive the course
familiarize themselves with basics of the discipline outline and a list of
before the class. The objective of this is to ensure readings and
that students without knowledge of international law instructions to
are able to familiarize themselves with the prepare for the
fundamental arguments in the discourse on the class.
legality of international law and the basis for
consent. Synthesis papers

Literature for synthesis

James Brierly The Law of Nations: An Introduction

to the International Law of Peace (Oxford University
Press, 1963). Chapter 1

Shaw, Malcolm N. (2008). International Law

(6th ed.). Cambridge University Press Chapters 1&2

Baxter, R. R. (1958) "Introduction to International

Law," NAVAL WAR COLLEGE REVIEW: Vol. 11:
No. 7, Article 2.

Malanczuk, P. (1997). Akehurst's Modern

Introduction to International Law (7th ed.).
Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203427712

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 The papers will take the form of explanatory
synthesis. Each student will be assigned a topic to
develop the synthesis paper on.

Instructions for the synthesis paper

Based on the assigned area, state the main idea of
the paper. Develop a synthesis of the critical
arguments relating to the assigned area.

The papers should be typed according to the

following guidelines:

Page Limit: 4 pages

Font: New Times Roman
Font Size: 12
Line space options: 1.5

Submission Date: 8th November 2024 @ 17:00

hours to [email protected]

TWO MODULE 1: Introduction to International Law Instructor: LAOD

This class introduces issues in public international

law. It focuses on select issues that guide the
interaction of state and non-state actors in the
international system. In particular, it provides an
exposé of some of the controversies of public
international law; discuss the basis of international
law, the sources of the law and challenges with
regards to eliciting compliance for international law.

LESSON 1: The basics of international law

 Objectives, Structure and Content of the

Course
 The nature of international law
 Sources of international law (customary law)
 Basis of Obligation
 Challenges with eliciting Compliance &
Mechanisms for eliciting compliance
Recommende  Shaw, M. N. (2014) International Law, 7th ed.,
d Readings Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Chapter 1
 Harris, D. J., (2010) Cases and Materials on
International Law, 7th ed., New York: Sweet &
Maxwell. Chapter 1(Introduction- International
Law)
 Brownlie Ian, (2008) Principles of Public

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 International Law, Oxford: Oxford University
Press, Chapter 1- Sources of the Law
THREE MODULE 2: Sources of International Law Teaching Mode:

This class discusses what qualifies a body of rules in Instructor: LAOD

the international system as law. Sources of law Presenter:
explain why the rules of the international system Shadrack Kundi
may be considered as law properly so-called; the Baa-Naa
methods by which those rules are created, and how
the rights and/or obligations that the rules of law
stipulate can be identified.

LESSON 2: Sources
 Treaties
 Custom
 General Principles of law
 Judicial Decisions
 Soft Law

Recommende  Article 38 of the ICJ Statutes

d Readings  The Vienna Convention on the Law of
Treaties
 Brownlie, I., (2008) Principles of Public
International Law, Oxford: Oxford University
Press, Chapter 25 – The Law of Treaties
 Shaw, M. N. (2014) International Law, 7th ed.,
Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Chapter 16
 Robert Y. Jennings, “Treaty” in Bedjaoui M.
(Ed) (1999), International Law: Achievements
and Prospects, pp. 135 – 177

FOUR MODULE 3: Subjects of International Law Teaching Mode:

States are the primary subjects of international law. Instructor: LAOD

They are however not the only subjects of Presenter: Juliana
international law. This class discusses who qualifies Kpedekpo
to be considered a subject of international law and
the limitation(s) if any, to the rights and
responsibilities that may be exercised by the
subjects of international law.

LESSON 3: International Personality

(i) States
(ii) International Organisations
(iii) Individuals

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 (iv) Others

Recommende  Brownlie, I., (2008) Principles of Public

d Readings International Law, Oxford: Oxford University
Press, Chapters 3 (Subjects of the Law), 4
(Incidence and Continuity of Statehood) & 5
(Recognition of States and Governments).
 Shaw, M. N. (2014) International Law, 7th ed.,
Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Chapter 5, 9, 17
 Brengt Broms, “States” in Bedjaoui M. (Ed),
International Law: Achievements and
Prospects, pp. 41-65
 Bin Cheng, “Introduction to Subjects of
International Law” in Bedjaoui M. (Ed),
International Law: Achievements and
Prospects, pp. 23 – 39

FIVE MODULE 4: State, Territory & Jurisdiction Teaching Mode:

This class provides an exposé on the concept of Instructor: LAOD

state and the elements that qualify an entity to lay
claim to statehood; discusses how states acquire Presenters:
territory and the exercise of authority over territory.

Lesson 4: The Concept of State, the Acquisition of

Territory and the exercise of authority
Kansangbata Abu
(i) The notion of statehood
(ii) Acquisition
(iii) Jurisdiction

(iv) Recognition of governments Akagbor Edem

(v) State succession & the legal
consequences of a change of
sovereignty over territory

 Joseph H. Beale, The Jurisdiction of a

Sovereign State, Harvard Law Review, Vol.
36, No. 3 (Jan., 1923), pp. 241-262
 Brownlie, I., (2008) Principles of Public
International Law, Oxford: Oxford University
Press, Chapters 6 (Territorial Sovereignty), 7
(The Creation of Transfer of Territorial

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 Sovereignty, 8 (Status of Territory: Further
Problems)
 Shaw, M. N. (2014) International Law, 7th ed.,
Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Presenter:

SIX MODULE 5: Sovereign and Diplomatic Immunity Teaching Mode:

As part of the recognition of sovereignty, sovereigns Instructor: LAOD

and their envoys enjoy immunities from the Presenter: Debrah
jurisdiction of host states in which they reside and Richmond
operate.

LESSON 5: The function of states, privileges and

immunity

(i) The concept and function of

sovereign and diplomatic immunity
(ii) Principles of sovereign and
diplomatic immunity
(iii) Concept and function of immunity
for international organisations

Recommende  Brownlie, I., (2008) Principles of Public

d Reading International Law, Oxford: Oxford University
Press, Chapter 15 (Privileges and Immunities
of Foreign States.
 The Vienna Convention on the Law of
Treaties

SEVEN MODULE 6: Individuals, Nationality, State Teaching Mode:

Responsibility & Remedies

One of the characteristics of a state is its capacity to Instructor: LAOD

maintain its rights by bringing international claims for
injuries suffered and accepting responsibility for its Barbara Kukuua
actions which have an effect on other subjects of Blankson
international law. This class focuses on the basis
and nature of state responsibility.

LESSON 6: State Responsibility

 The position of individuals, Nationality

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 and State responsibility
 Principles of State responsibility

 Reception and Extradition of

SACKEY
Individuals EPHRAIM NII
 The Position of Aliens and their TAN
property

Recommende  Brownlie, I., (2008) Principles of Public

d Reading International Law, Oxford: Oxford University
Press, Chapter 18 (The Relations of
Nationality)
 Shaw, M. N. (2014) International Law, 7th ed.,
Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Chapter 14
 Philip C. Jessup, Responsibility of States for
Injuries to Individuals, Columbia Law Review,
Vol. 46, No. 6 (Nov., 1946), pp. 903-928
 Dinah Shelton Private Violence, Public
Wrongs, And The Responsibility Of States, 13
Fordham International Law Journal, Philip C.
Jessup, Responsibility of States for Injuries to
Individuals, Columbia Law Review, Vol. 46,
No. 6 (Nov., 1946), Vol 13, Issue 1, Article 1,
1989.

 ILC Draft Articles on State Responsibility

2001

EIGHT MODULE 7: The Use of Force Teaching Mode:

Despite the categorical ban in Article 2(4) of the Instructor: LAOD

Charter on the use of force, there are exceptions to
the rule. Increasingly, states are coming together to Presenters:
address security challenges outside the multilateral
frameworks that permit the use of force.
Interestingly, multilateral institutions such as the
United Nations and the African Union are tacitly and,
in some instances, overtly endorsing such
arrangements. The class will discuss the exceptions
to the use of force and the emerging practice of ad
hoc arrangements. There will also be an exposé of
the emerging norm of the responsibility to protect.

LESSON 7: History and development of the law on

the use of force
Aryeetey Jeffred

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  Prohibition on the use of force Okoe
 The status of Article 2 (4) of the UN Charter
 Self-defence - Individual and collective and
emerging practices
Mofuman Engracia
 The principle of non-intervention
 Exceptions to the principle of non-
intervention, including humanitarian
intervention, Responsibility to Protect (R2P).

Recommende  Shaw, M. N. (2014) International Law, 7th ed.,

d Reading Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Chapter 20
 Ronald St. John Macdonald, “The Use of
Force by States in International Law”, in
Bedjaoui M. (Ed), pp. 717 – 741
 Brownlie, I. (1963) International Law and the
Use of Force by States, Oxford. Chapter 25
 Williamson, M. (2016) Terrorism, War and
International Law: The Legality of the Use of
Force against Afghanistan in 2001: London
and New York, Routledge. Pp 99-161

NINE MODULE 8: The Law of the Sea Teaching Mode:

LESSON 8: Measurement Instructor: Guest

(i) Development – Extent of Lecturer
Sovereignty and National
Jurisdiction
(ii) Territorial Sea and Contiguous
zone
(iii) Exclusive Economic Zone
(iv) Continental Shelf
(v) High Seas
(vi) The “Area”

Recommende  Shaw, M. N. (2014) International Law, 7th

d Reading ed., Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Pp. 490-566
 The United Nations Convention on the Law of
the Sea 1982
 Gavouneli, M. (2007). Functional Jurisdiction
in the Law of the Sea. The Hague, Martinus
Nijhoff, 31-32.

TEN Lesson 9: Maritime Security and the Law of the Sea Teaching Mode:

LESSON 9: Piracy, Armed Robbery, Trafficking Instructor: Guest

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  Definitions Lecturer
 International law on piracy and armed robbery
 Smuggling and Trafficking at sea: Humans,
drugs and weapons
 Illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing
Recommende  Ali, K-D. (2015). Maritime Security
d Reading Cooperation in the Gulf of Guinea: Prospects
and Challenges. Leiden, Brill.
 Bueger, C. and Edmunds, T. (2017). Beyond
Sea Blindness: A New agenda for Maritime
Security Studies, International Affairs 93: 6,
1293–1311.
 González, Y. S. (2016). The Gulf of Guinea:
The Future African Persian Gulf? Brazilian
Journal of African Studies V.1, N.1, 85-105
ELEVEN MODULE 10: International Space Law Teaching Mode:
Lesson 10:
 Definitions Instructor: Guest
 Rationale & Principles governing the use of Lecturer
outer space
 The Five United Nations Treaties on Outer
Space
 Critical Issues in space Law
o Terrorism
o Hijacking
o Nuclear Weapons

Recommende  Shaw, M. N. (2014) International Law, 7th

d Reading ed., Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Pp. 463-479
 Convention on International Civil Aviation,
1944
 Treaty on the Outer Space, 1967
TWELVE MODULE 11: International Human Rights & Teaching Mode:
Humanitarian Law
The class introduces the concepts of human rights Instructor: LD
and humanitarian law, their scope of application, the
responsibility of states the mechanisms for eliciting
compliance and remedies for violations.

LESSON 11:
 Definition and principles of human rights and
humanitarian law
 The Legal framework for human rights and
humanitarian law
 Mechanisms for eliciting compliance
 Remedies for violations
Recommende  Shaw, M. N. (2014) International Law, 7th
d Reading ed., Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Pp. 247-262

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Instructors: LAOD – Dr. Linda A.O. Darkwa