MVZb2103 International law and international courts

Faculty of Social Studies
Autumn 2024
Extent and Intensity
2/0/0. 4 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
In-person direct teaching
Teacher(s)
JUDr. Ing. Jan Lhotský, Ph.D., E.MA (lecturer)
Mgr. Lenka Martínková (seminar tutor)
JUDr. Mgr. Ivo Pospíšil, Ph.D. (lecturer)
prof. PhDr. Zdeněk Kříž, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
prof. PhDr. Zdeněk Kříž, Ph.D.
Department of International Relations and European Studies – Faculty of Social Studies
Supplier department: Department of International Relations and European Studies – Faculty of Social Studies
Timetable
Mon 16:00–17:40 P52
Prerequisites
Knowledge of English
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 60 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 38/60, only registered: 0/60
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
The aim of the course is to introduce students who will work not only in the field of international relations in the future to international law and its importance for the functioning of the international community. In the practice of international relations, they will encounter international law, whether it is the application of the UN Charter (e.g. the prohibition of the use of force between states), the functioning of various international organisations (e.g. the UN within the Human Rights Council) or institutions (e.g. the support of states for the functioning of international courts). To this end, it is necessary to have a basic understanding of the functioning of international law and the core international courts, distinguishing between them, as well as between decisions that are legally binding on states (judgments) and those that have the legal nature of recommendations (soft law). The course thus promotes not only knowledge of, but also respect for international law.
Learning outcomes
Upon completion of the course, students will understand the basics of international law, which is legally binding on states and other entities. Students will also become familiar with some specific branches of international law, which are mainly the protection of human rights, international humanitarian law (=the law of armed conflicts), international criminal justice, and they will also gain insight into other areas such as international environmental law or migration and asylum law. Knowledge of the functioning of international law and international courts contributes to relations between states that are based on the values enshrined in international law.
Syllabus
  • Expected programme of the lectures: (1) What is international law? Introduction to the course and the basics of international law; (2) The UN Charter, the structure and functioning of the UN, the International Court of Justice and its functioning; (3) Human rights: universal (global) systems of protection; (4) Human rights: regional systems of protection, the European Court of Human Rights; (5) Study trip to the Constitutional Court: A tour and discussion of how the Court applies international law; (6) International humanitarian law (=law of armed conflicts or law of war); (7) Prohibition of the use of force in  international law and its exceptions: interpretation of the "right to war" and practical examples; (8) International criminal justice, trying crimes under international law (e.g. war crimes) before international courts and domestically; (9) The International Criminal Court: the functioning, cases and problems of the ICC in The Hague; (10) Reading week; (11) Other areas of international law and international courts: law of the sea, Antarctica, international investment protection, outer space; (12) Half lectures with external experts: (a) international environmental law including climate protection, and (b) international migration and refugee law; (13) Final class: group presentations by students.
Literature
    required literature
  • LHOTSKÝ, Jan. The (Missing) Right to a Healthy Environment in International Human Rights Law, especially the European Convention on Human Rights. In Pavel Šturma (ed.). Czech Yearbook of Public & Private International Law – Česká ročenka mezinárodního práva veřejného a soukromého. Vol. 12. Praha: Česká společnost pro mezinárodní právo, 2021, p. 246-255. ISBN 978-80-87488-42-3. URL info
  • DUFEK, Pavel and Hubert SMEKAL. Lidská práva v mezinárodní politice (Human Rights in International Politics). Praha: Wolters Kluwer, 2014, 447 pp. ISBN 978-80-7478-720-1. URL info
  • LHOTSKÝ, Jan. International Criminal Court: Jurisdiction over Genocide, Crimes against Humanity and War Crimes, including the Legal Regulation of the Crime of Aggression. 1. vyd. Brno: Masarykova univerzita, 2012, 222 pp. Spisy Právnické fakulty MU, sv. 430. ISBN 978-80-210-6065-4. info
  • LHOTSKÝ, Jan. Ochrana lidských práv v mezinárodním právu: kontrolní mechanismy na regionální a univerzální úrovni a možnost vzniku Světového soudu pro lidská práva (Human Rights Protection in International Law: Control Mechanisms on the Regional and Universal Level and the Possibility of Creating a World Court of Human Rights). 1. vyd. Brno: Masarykova univerzita, 2012, 321 pp. Spisy Právnické fakulty MU, sv. 431. ISBN 978-80-210-6066-1. info
  • DAVID, Vladislav. Mezinárodní právo veřejné s kazuistikou. 2. aktualiz. a přeprac. vyd. Praha: Leges, 2011, 448 s. ISBN 9788087212868. info
Teaching methods
Lectures by the head of the course or by external experts, study of literature, discussions, writing a group paper and its subsequent team presentation, excursion to the Constitutional Court.
Assessment methods
The lectures will include discussions with students. The overall grade will consist of three parts: (1) e-tests, (2) a group paper with its team presentation in the last class, and (3) a final written exam on the computer. The final grade will be the result of the evaluation of all three assignments in order to ensure objectiveness.
Language of instruction
Czech
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
Study Materials
The course is taught annually.
Teacher's information
Pay attention to the content of the interactive syllabus, which will contain all the important information about the course. If you are interested in a consultation, please contact the head of the course by email.
The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2022, Autumn 2023.
  • Enrolment Statistics (recent)
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