This is an advanced course in public international law engaging with a number of selected topics. The aim is to make students aware of the complex challenges of modern international law, its substantive rules, enforcement mechanisms, but also its methods and narratives. As an overall thread, it will be shown that modern international law has become highly diverse, risking what some call veritable 'fragmentation'. Beyond the basic rules of international law that students should already master at this level, specific regimes of international law such as human rights or world trade law are introduced. At the level of enforcement, the rules of state responsibility are examined in more detail, as well as the problem of multiplication of dispute settlement fora. If time permits, the variety of methodological approaches to the study of international law (critical legal studies, law and economics etc.) will also be discussed. A moot court provides students with an opportunity to gain some hands-on experience in international law.

Students interested in taking this course should contact benedikt.pirker@unifr.ch to receive the password for the moodle platform. Readings for the first course session are already available.