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Muralidharan R
  • The course will provide a functional understanding of International Legal Systems with special reference to Indian State Practices in International Relations.

  • The course traces the history of International Law from 1900 and chronicles the developments of the next 400 years.

  • The course will provide a birds-eye-view of the present International Relations Scene.

  • This course is specially meant for students taking UGC NET (Law)  and Civil Services Aspirants. This course is also important for those taking up exams related to International Laws. In this Course along with 380 mins of video presented in 7 sessions of roughly 45 mins each, there are two focused PowerPoints on the subject attached as reading material. The instructors’ earlier blogs on International laws are given as supplementary reading material.

  • The instructor does not claim to provide all the essential information on the topic. Before taking the course, the learners are requested to browse through the essentials on the topic. For law students taking university exams and those preparing for competitive law examinations, this course would be ideal as a revision aid. Since the course covers a lot of current developments relating to International Laws, the learner can hope to answer many of the questions that will form part of the General Studies question paper.

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What's inside

Learning objectives

  • The definition of international law
  • International law's relationship with municipal law
  • Sources of international law
  • Recognition of nation states

Syllabus

Introduction
What is International Law?
What is International Law? Continued.
Sources of International Law
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Traffic lights

Read about what's good
what should give you pause
and possible dealbreakers
Offers a functional understanding of international legal systems, which is directly relevant to the UGC NET (Law) and Civil Services exams
Provides a bird's-eye view of the present international relations scene, which is helpful for answering questions in the General Studies question paper
Serves as a revision aid for law students taking university exams and those preparing for competitive law examinations, reinforcing key concepts
Learners are requested to browse through the essentials on the topic before taking the course, suggesting it may not be suitable for complete beginners
Traces the history of international law from 1900 and chronicles the developments of the next 400 years, providing a historical perspective

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Reviews summary

International law basics and exam revision

According to learners, this course offers a solid introduction to Public International Law, particularly valuable for those preparing for competitive exams like UGC NET or Civil Services. Students found it a helpful revision tool, covering core concepts effectively. The integration of Indian State Practices was highlighted as particularly relevant. While providing a good overview, some reviewers suggested it lacks sufficient depth for comprehensive academic study and occasionally felt certain sections, like the historical overview, were extended.
Historical section may feel long to some learners.
"The historical part was interesting but felt a bit dragged out."
"The instructor spent too much time on history and not enough on current legal issues."
"The historical context provided a great foundation."
Provides a clear and strong basic foundation.
"Excellent introductory course! The historical context provided a great foundation. Useful for anyone starting out in Public International Law. Very clear explanations."
"Useful for anyone starting out in Public International Law."
"The concepts were explained clearly and made the subject approachable."
Integration of Indian context is highly relevant.
"Fantastic course for Civil Services aspirants. The overview of Indian State Practices is unique and highly relevant."
"The Indian State Practices section added significant value for me."
"This focus on Indian practice is hard to find elsewhere and very useful."
Excellent for exam prep and legal revision.
"Fantastic course for Civil Services aspirants. The overview of Indian State Practices is unique and highly relevant. Highly recommend for exam prep."
"Good overview for revision purposes. The parts on Sources and Treaties were particularly helpful for my exam prep. Could use a bit more detail in some areas, but overall solid."
"Helpful revision tool for university exams. Covered the key concepts mentioned in the syllabus concisely. The additional reading material was a nice bonus."
May not be detailed enough for in-depth study.
"Not detailed enough for serious study, only a very superficial overview."
"Could use a bit more detail in some areas..."
"Was expecting more depth on modern applications. Good for a very basic introduction."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Public International Law: Module 1 with these activities:
Review Key Concepts of Treaty Law
Reinforce your understanding of treaty law, a fundamental source of international law, before delving into the course material.
Show steps
  • Review the definition and elements of a treaty.
  • Study the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties.
  • Practice identifying treaty provisions in case studies.
Create a glossary of international law terms
Solidify your understanding of key international law concepts by creating a comprehensive glossary of terms and definitions.
Show steps
  • Identify key terms from the course materials.
  • Research the definitions and legal context of each term.
  • Compile the terms and definitions into a glossary.
  • Share the glossary with classmates for feedback.
Read 'International Law' by Malcolm Shaw
Gain a comprehensive understanding of international law principles and theories to enhance your learning in the course.
View International Law on Amazon
Show steps
  • Read the chapters related to sources of international law.
  • Take notes on key concepts and case studies.
  • Reflect on how the book's content relates to the course syllabus.
Four other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all seven activities
Discuss state recognition with peers
Solidify your understanding of state recognition theories and practices through collaborative discussion and knowledge sharing.
Show steps
  • Form a study group with classmates.
  • Review the different theories of state recognition.
  • Discuss case studies of state recognition, such as Bangladesh and Israel.
  • Debate the legal and political implications of recognition.
Write a blog post on a current international law issue
Deepen your understanding of international law by researching and writing about a contemporary issue, connecting theory to real-world events.
Show steps
  • Choose a current international law issue.
  • Research the legal and political aspects of the issue.
  • Write a blog post summarizing your findings and analysis.
  • Share your blog post on social media or relevant forums.
Read 'Cases and Materials on International Law' by D.J. Harris
Gain a deeper understanding of international law principles through the analysis of landmark cases and legal materials.
Show steps
  • Select cases related to the course syllabus.
  • Read the case summaries and legal analysis.
  • Identify the key legal principles and their application.
Research the legal status of Taiwan
Apply your knowledge of statehood and recognition to a complex real-world scenario, enhancing your analytical and research skills.
Show steps
  • Research the history of Taiwan's political status.
  • Analyze the legal arguments for and against statehood.
  • Examine the recognition policies of different countries.
  • Write a report summarizing your findings and conclusions.

Career center

Learners who complete Public International Law: Module 1 will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
International Lawyer
An international lawyer works on matters of public international law, including treaties, international agreements, and disputes between countries. They may work for governments, international organizations, or private firms. The course's detailed study of international law, tracing its history from 1900 and exploring developments over the next 400 years, is directly applicable to this role. Further, the course specifically covers sources of international law, interpretation of treaties, and the recognition of nation states, all relevant to the practice of an international lawyer. The course's inclusion of instructor's blogs, and the focused powerpoint presentations can also be valuable.
Diplomat
A diplomat represents their country's interests in international relations. They engage in negotiations, build relationships, and work to advance foreign policy goals. This course helps someone interested in becoming a diplomat learn about international law, its history, and its relationship with state practices, particularly India's. This includes an exploration of international legal systems, the sources of international law, and the recognition of nation states. The course's focus on developments in international law and current events surrounding international relations may also prove useful in this role.
Legal Advisor International Affairs
A legal advisor for international affairs provides legal guidance to organizations or governments on international law and treaties. This role requires a deep understanding of the legal principles that govern international relations, and this course may be useful to build a foundation. The course's exploration of international legal systems, including analysis of the sources of international law, the definitions of states, and the theory of recognition, directly supports the work of a legal advisor on international affairs. The course also explores the history of international law from 1900 forward, providing essential historical context.
Academic International Law
An academic in international law conducts research and teaches at a college or university. This role often requires an advanced degree, typically a Ph.D. The course is an ideal starting point for anyone interested in pursuing research and teaching on this topic. It provides a functional understanding of international legal systems and traces the history of the subject from 1900. The course also covers important concepts such as the sources of international law and the recognition of nation states. The supplementary reading may be useful for someone who intends to dive into the field of international law.
Foreign Service Officer
Foreign service officers work for their government's diplomatic corps, stationed at embassies and consulates around the world. They engage in work that involves political analysis, economic development, and consular affairs. This course may be particularly useful to a prospective foreign service officer since it provides a functional understanding of international legal systems, and how they relate to state practices, such as India's, which is discussed extensively in the course. The course also explores subjects such as the sources of international law, the definition of states, and the recognition of nation states. This would provide helpful background in the complex world of international relations.
International Organization Officer
An officer for an international organization works on programs and initiatives for bodies like the United Nations or the World Health Organization. This role typically requires a strong understanding of international law and global affairs. This course may be helpful to someone interested in this role as it provides a functional understanding of international legal systems and how they relate to state practices. The exploration of the sources of international law and concepts like the recognition of nation states would also build a background in the field. The instructor's material can also provide useful context.
International Relations Specialist
An international relations specialist works to understand and analyze the interactions between countries. This includes political, economic, and social factors. This course's focus on international legal systems and how they relate to state practices helps one to gain insight into the subject. This course may be particularly useful since it provides a broad overview of the current state of relations and a functional understanding of international legal systems. The exploration of topics like the sources of international law and the recognition of nation states in the course is also beneficial.
International Mediator
An international mediator helps to resolve disputes between nations and international bodies. This role requires a deep understanding of international law and diplomacy. This course may be useful for a future international mediator by providing a functional understanding of international legal systems, history, and state practices. The course also covers key concepts such as sources of international law, the definition of states, and the theory of recognition, all crucial for effective mediation. Furthermore, the instructor's material may offer additional insights.
Human Rights Advocate
A human rights advocate works to promote and protect human rights, often focusing on the international legal framework. This work can include conducting research, raising public awareness, and advocating for policy changes. This course may be particularly useful for someone interested in becoming a human rights advocate, as it provides a functional understanding of international legal systems. It also covers important topics such as the sources of international law and the recognition of nation states, which are relevant to the work of a human rights advocate. Additionally, the course provides a historical overview of international law.
International Trade Specialist
An international trade specialist works with the policies and framework surrounding global commerce. They are involved in trade agreements and resolving disputes in trade. This course may be relevant to one seeking to become an international trade specialist since it provides a deeper understanding of international legal systems, which is an important factor in international trade. The course also delves into state recognition and international law, which may be useful when forming international agreements. A historical perspective of international law may also be beneficial.
Policy Analyst International Relations
A policy analyst focusing on international relations researches and analyzes policies related to international issues. This role supports policymakers with evidence-based proposals and analysis. A functional understanding of international legal systems and state practices, as provided by this course, may be helpful in the analysis of international policies. The course's historical overview of international law from 1900, and its exploration of the developments of the next 400 years, may be useful for a policy analyst seeking to understand the evolution of current policies.
Political Risk Analyst
A political risk analyst assesses political and regulatory risks that might impact business and investments. This job demands a strong understanding of global politics and international laws. The course's overview of international legal systems with special reference to state practices, such as India, provides a useful perspective on international relations, which can inform the assessment of risk. It may also help that the course covers the history of international law, its sources, and the recognition of nation states. This may be useful to a political risk analyst.
International Development Consultant
An international development consultant works on projects with global impact, focusing on improving living conditions and social progress. This work often involves a need to navigate international law and regulations. This course may be useful for an international development consultant by providing a functional understanding of international legal systems, and the way they relate to state practices. Further, the course explores the history of international law and the definition of states, which may prove relevant to international development work. The instructor's blogs and powerpoint presentations may also be useful resources.
Non Governmental Organization Specialist
A specialist for a non governmental organization may focus on lobbying, policy development, or project management. This work often involves an understanding of international governance and law. This course may help to build a background understanding of the field. The course includes a functional understanding of international legal systems, state practices, and the history of international law, as well as sources of the subject. The instructor's blogs and powerpoint content would also be useful in informing project management in this career path.
Immigration Officer
An immigration officer is responsible for enforcing immigration laws and regulations, often involving international rules and agreements. This course's functional understanding of international legal systems, along with its special references to state practices, may be useful to someone interested in this role. The course covers the history of international law and key topics such as the definition of states, and the theory of recognition, which may also help to understand immigration issues. The focused powerpoint presentations and the instructor's blog may provide additional context.

Reading list

We've selected two books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Public International Law: Module 1.
Provides a comprehensive overview of international law, covering its history, sources, and key principles. It is widely used as a textbook in universities and offers in-depth analysis of various aspects of international law. Reading this book will provide a solid foundation for understanding the concepts discussed in the course. It valuable reference tool for students and practitioners alike.
Compilation of key cases and materials in international law. It provides a detailed analysis of landmark cases and their impact on the development of international legal principles. It valuable resource for understanding the practical application of international law. This book is best used as additional reading to supplement the course materials.

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