MVV323K International Criminal Law

Faculty of Law
Spring 2021
Extent and Intensity
0/1/0. 3 credit(s). Type of Completion: k (colloquium).
Teacher(s)
Patrick Casey Leisure, J.D., LL.M. (seminar tutor), prof. JUDr. Ing. Michal Radvan, Ph.D. (deputy)
Guaranteed by
prof. JUDr. Ing. Michal Radvan, Ph.D.
Faculty of Law
Contact Person: Mgr. Věra Redrupová, B.A.
Supplier department: Faculty of Law
Timetable of Seminar Groups
MVV323K/01: Mon 19. 4. 16:00–17:40 041, 18:00–19:40 041, Tue 20. 4. 18:00–19:40 041, Wed 21. 4. 18:00–19:40 041, Thu 22. 4. 18:00–19:40 041, P. Leisure
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is only offered to the students of the study fields the course is directly associated with.

The capacity limit for the course is 30 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 8/30, only registered: 0/30
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
there are 38 fields of study the course is directly associated with, display
Course objectives
This class will examine selected topics in International Criminal Law (ICL). We will explore the history and development of ICL with an emphasis on the Ad Hoc International Tribunals and the International Criminal Court (ICC). The course will analyze jurisdictional issues of international criminal courts and the elements of substantive international crimes, such as war crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide, and aggression. This course will offer a detailed overview of theories of liability and defenses in ICL. Finally, the course will conclude with a discussion of practical aspects of ICL such as custody issues, post-conflict justice, and the direction of ICL as a field.
Learning outcomes
At the end of the course, students will be able to:
1) Understand and situate the place of ICL in the history of international law;
2) Trace the development of the most important doctrines in ICL;
3) Identify and critically assess the courts that have applied ICL, their jurisdictional constraints, and the substance of their decisions;
4) Substantively engage with international crimes and their elements, from crimes against humanity to genocide;
5) Understand and critically evaluate defenses and prosecution methods, practical aspects of international criminal law, and where the field may go in the future.
Syllabus
  • SESSION 1: Course Introduction
  • - Overview of the history of international criminal law: from Nuremburg to the Hague.
  • SESSION 2: Courts and Jurisdiction
  • - ICTY, ICTR, IRMCT, ICC, national courts and universal jurisdiction, other special tribunals.
  • SESSION 3: International Crimes
  • - Aggression, genocide, crimes against humanity, torture, and piracy.
  • SESSION 4: Liability in international criminal law
  • - Command responsibility, Joint Criminal Liability, Control of the Crime Doctrine, Incitement, duress, superior orders.
  • SESSION 5: Practical aspects and the future of ICL
  • - Victim participation, Sentencing, penalties and reparations, post-conflict justice, Responses to the ICC.
Literature
  • Key provisions of the statute of the international criminal court, judicial opinions, and relevant secondary readings, which will be distributed or made available online prior to the beginning of the course.
Teaching methods
Lectures and Discussion.
Assessment methods
Students will be evaluated on their writing and analytical ability. Each student will prepare a three to five-page paper analyzing one of the assigned class topics, an issue relevant to the class of the student’s choice, or another topic chosen by the student that is approved by the instructor. Papers should be written in English and will be due three weeks after the final class session. Students are encouraged to choose topics that are of interest to them.
Language of instruction
English
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
Study Materials
The course is taught only once.
Teacher's information
Syllabus (a description of the course)

See separate course Syllabus distributed to those enrolled.

  • Enrolment Statistics (recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/law/spring2021/MVV323K