MVV366K The Use and Non-use of Military Force in International Law in the context of the War in Ukraine

Právnická fakulta
jaro 2023
Rozsah
0/1/0. 3 kr. Ukončení: k.
Vyučující
Dr Marko Svicevic, BA(Law), LLB, LLD (UP) (cvičící), prof. JUDr. Ing. Michal Radvan, Ph.D. (zástupce)
Garance
prof. JUDr. Ing. Michal Radvan, Ph.D.
Právnická fakulta
Kontaktní osoba: Mgr. Věra Redrupová, B.A.
Dodavatelské pracoviště: Právnická fakulta
Rozvrh seminárních/paralelních skupin
MVV366K/01: Po 27. 3. 14:00–15:40 041, Út 28. 3. 12:00–13:40 041, 14:00–15:40 041, St 29. 3. 10:00–11:40 041, Čt 30. 3. 16:00–17:40 041
Omezení zápisu do předmětu
Předmět je určen pouze studentům mateřských oborů.

Předmět si smí zapsat nejvýše 30 stud.
Momentální stav registrace a zápisu: zapsáno: 10/30, pouze zareg.: 0/30
Mateřské obory/plány
Cíle předmětu
This intensive course aims to introduce participants to two interrelated and sometimes controversial issues in international law. The first is the non-use of force, enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations as a cornerstone of contemporary international law. Article 2(4) of the Charter of the United Nations has for 78 years prohibited resort to threats or actual uses of military force. To this end, the non-use of force has prevailed in the predominant relations between states. When force is used however, it ought to be a last resort. The second and more controversial issue this course deals with is the actual use of military force under international law.

While the use and threat of force are prohibited in state relations, two exceptions are found within the Charter of the United Nations: individual and collective self-defence under Article 51, and authorisation by the United Nations Security Council under Chapters VII and VIII. These exceptions to the prohibition are however not without dispute; least of which concerns matters of interpretation, the composition and decisions of the Security Council, and the erosion of Article 2(4). Ultimately, this course introduces participants to the both the non-use of force in international relations, and selected aspects of when military force becomes an eventuality. In this backdrop, the course then applies the existing international legal framework pertaining to the use of force against the situation in Ukraine following the Russian invasion of February 2022. Issues it addresses include the violation of Article 2(4) by the Russian Federation, the resort to individual and collective self-defence by Ukraine, the position of states directly and indirectly supporting Russian aggression (Belarus, Iran), the position of States supporting Ukraine through financial and military aid, and the positions, discussions and involvement of the UN Security Council.
Výstupy z učení
At the end of the course, students should be able to:
- understand the nature and scope of the prohibition of the use of military force;
- explain the well-established and controversial exceptions to the prohibition;
- understand the functions of the UN Security Council and how it authorises military force;
- describe the requirements, conditions and limitations on existing exceptions to the prohibition, including that of individual and collective self-defence;
- consider the role of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation and its basis for resort to military force under Article 5 of the NATO Treaty;
- interpret relevant provisions of the UN Charter, as well as other legal instruments regulating the maintenance of international peace and security;
- apply the existing rules of international law on military force to the situation in Ukraine;
- identify and discuss violations of international law relating to the use of military force;
- distinguish between accepted exceptions to the prohibition of the use of force;
- make an informed and reasoned assessment on the legality of the Russian Federation’s reliance on self-defence and humanitarian intervention;
- determine, based on acquired knowledge, the legality of specific actions during the war in Ukraine;
- interpret, examine and apply acquired knowledge to broader public engagement on issues of the use of force in international law in the context of the war in Ukraine.
Osnova
  • 1. Introduction to the course
  • 2. Historical development of the prohibition
  • 3. The prohibition of the use of force
  • 4.Exceptions to the prohibition I: Individual and collective self-defence
  • 5. Exceptions to the prohibition II: The UN Security Council and UN Security Council authorisation
  • 6. Exceptions beyond the UN Charter
  • 7. Recurring and Ancillary Issues on the Use of Force
  • 8. (Contemporary) Issues on the Use of Force
  • 9. Debate and Exam
Literatura
  • See Teacher's Information for further details.
Výukové metody
Lectures and discussions
Metody hodnocení
Final examination: 100 multiple choice questions
Vyučovací jazyk
Angličtina
Informace učitele
Literature:


A. General Resources and Readings:


• Opinions of (Legal) Scholars on the Conflict in Ukraine: https://padlet.com/noellequenivet/6nitzzw3i1ttgpt5


• Journal on the Use of Force and International Law (Taylor & Francis)


• Christine Gray, International Law and the Use of Force, (Oxford University Press, 2018)


• Christian Henderson, The Use of Force and International Law, (Cambridge University Press, 2018)


• Marc Weller (ed), The Oxford Handbook of the Use of Force in International Law, (Oxford University Press, 2015)


• Bruno Simma et al, The Charter of the United Nations: A Commentary (Oxford University Press, 2015, Vol. 1 and 2)


• Marko Svicevic & Taxiarchis Fiskatoris, ‘Chapter 13: Use of Force’ (Public International Law: An Open Textbook – Wikipedia WikiBooks)



B. Readings per Study Unit:


1. Introduction to the course


Documents and Resources:


• UN General Assembly Resolution 3314 (XXXIX) Definition of Aggression


Recommended Readings:


• Oliver Dörr, ‘Use of force, Prohibition of’ in Max Planck Encyclopaedia of Public International Law (2019) | see paras 11 – 20


• Tom Ruys, ‘The meaning of “force” and the boundaries of the jus ad bellum: Are “minimal” uses of force excluded from UN Charter Article 2(4)?’ (2014) 108(2) American Journal of International Law 159 – 210



2. Historical development of the prohibition


Documents and Resources:


• Covenant of the League of Nations (Treaty of Versailles) (1919)


• Kellogg-Briand Pact (1928)


Recommended Readings:


• Christian J. Tams, ‘League of Nations’ in Max Planck Encyclopaedia of Public International Law (2006) • Erika de Wet & Marko Svicevic, ‘The Military Clauses in the Treaty of Versailles and the Birth of a Collective Security System’ in Société française pour le droit international Deutsche - Franco Allemandes (ed), Le Traité de Versailles: regards franco-allemands en droit international à l’occasion du centenaire / The Versailles Treaty: French and German Perspectives in International Law on the Occasion of the Centenary (Pedone, Paris 2020) 149-167.



3. The prohibition in the UN Charter


Documents and Resources:


• UN Charter (1945) | Article 2(4)


• Budapest Memorandum on Security Assurances in Connection with Ukraine’s Accession to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons


Recommended Readings:


• Lauri Mälksoo, ‘Ukraine Symposium – Illegality of Russia’s Annexations in Ukraine’ (3 October 2022) Articles of War (Lieber Institute)


• James Green, Christian Henderson & Tom Ruys, ‘Russia’s attack on Ukraine and the jus ad bellum’ (2022) 9(1) Journal on the Use of Force and International Law 4-30


• Nico Krisch, ‘After Hegemony: The Law on the Use of Force and the Ukraine Crisis’ (2 March 2022) EJIL:Talk!


• Elvira Rosert, ‘Vereint gegen den Krieg: Die UN-Vollversammlung stellt sich hinter die Ukraine’ (3 March 2022) Völkerrechtsblog


• Niklas Reetz, ‘Belarus is Complicit in Russia’s War of Aggression’ (1 March 2022) EJIL:Talk!



4. Exceptions to the prohibition I: Individual and collective self-defence


Documents and Resources:


• Article 51 | UN Charter


• Article 5 | NATO Treaty


• Military and Paramilitary Activities in and against Nicaragua (Nicaragua v. United States of America). Merits, Judgment. I.C.J. Reports 1986, p. 14


• Oil Platforms (Islamic Republic of Iran v. United States of America), Preliminary Objection, Judgment, 1. C. J. Reports 1996, p. 803


Recommended Readings:


• Karl Zemanek, ‘Armed Attack’ (2013) Max Planck Encyclopaedia of Public International Law


• Agata Kleczkowska, ‘Nord Stream Explosions as a Breach of the Peace’ (31 October 2022) Opinio Juris


• Danae Azaria & Geir Ulfstein, ‘Are sabotage of submarine pipelines an ‘armed attack’ triggering a right to self-defence?’ (18 October 2022) EJIL:Talk!


• Marko Milanovic, ‘When did the Armed Attack Against Ukraine become “Imminent”?’ (20 April 2022) EJIL:Talk!



5. Exceptions to the prohibition II: The UN Security Council and UN Security Council authorisation


Documents and Resources:


• Chapter V, VI and VII | Charter of the United Nations


• Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, ‘Statement of the MFA of Ukraine on the illegitimacy of the Russian Federation’s presence in the UN Security Council and in the United Nations as a whole’ (26 December 2022)


Recommended Readings:


• Thomas Grant, ‘Removing Russia from the Security Council: Part One’ (18 October 2022) Opinio Juris


• ‘Removing Russia from the Security Council: Part Two’ (19 October 2022)


• Joris von de Riet, ‘No, Russia cannot be removed from the UN Security Council’ (22 March 2022) Leiden Law Blog


• John Chappell & Emma Svobodova, ‘Must Russia Abstain on Security Council Votes Regarding the Ukraine Crisis?’ (11 February 2022) Lawfare


• Christine Gray, ‘International Law and the Use of Force’ (Oxford University Press, 2018, 4th ed) | Chapter 7: Security Council authorisation of member states to use force



6. Exceptions beyond the UN Charter


Documents and Resources:


• UN Security Council Doc. S/2021/247


• Institut de Droit International, Tenth Session, ‘Present Problems of the Use of Force in International Law: Sub-Group C – Military Assistance on Request’ (8 September 2011)


• 2005 World Summit Outcome (UN General Assembly Document A/RES/60/1)


Recommended Readings:


• Elizabeth Wilmshurst, ‘Ukraine: Debunking Russia’s legal justifications’ (24 February 2022) Chatham House


• Adil Ahmad Haque, ‘Self-Defence Against Non-State Actors: All Over the Map’ (24 March 2021) Just Security


• Erika de Wet, Military Assistance on Request and the Use of Force (Oxford University Press, 2020) – Chapter 4: Chapter 5: Formal Requirements for Valid Consent to Direct Military Assistance


• Rebecca Barber, ‘What does “Responsibility to Protect” Require of States in Ukraine?’ (3 August 2022) 25(2) Journal of International Peacekeeping 155-177



7. Recurring and ancillary issues on the use of force


Documents and Resources:


• Legality of the Threat or Use of Nuclear Weapons, Advisory Opinion, 1. C.J. Reports 1996, p. 226


• Tallinn Manual 2.0 on International Law Applicable to Cyber Operations (Cambridge University Press, 2017, 2nd ed)


• Outer Space Treaty (1967)


• Antarctic Treaty (1959)


• 2014 Draft Treaty on the Prevention of the Placement of Weapons in Outer Space, the Threat or Use of Force against Outer Space Objects


Recommended Readings:


• Marco Roscini, Cyber Operations and the Use of Force in International Law (Oxford University Press, 2014) 43 – 115


• Steve Mirmina & Caryn Schenewerk, International Space Law and Space Laws of the United States (Edward Elgar, 2022) | ‘Chapter 13: National security and the military uses of outer space’


• Kristen Eichensehr, ‘Ukraine, Cyberattacks, and the Lessons for International Law’ (2022) 116 American Journal of International Law Unbound



8. Contemporary Issues on the Use of Force


Documents and Resources:


• Montreux Document on Private Military and Security Companies(2008)


• Art. 47 | Additional Protocol I to the Geneva Conventions of 1949


• International Convention Against the Recruitment, Use, Financing and Training of Mercenaries (1989)

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