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LL4059V/LL5059V/LL6059V 

UNITED NATIONS LAW & PRACTICE
   2018/2019, Semester 2
   Law (Law)
Modular Credits: LL4059V ( 5 ) / LL5059V ( 5 ) / LL6059V ( 5 )
  Tags: --

Learning Outcomes

TopBy examining primary materials focused on the normative context within which the United Nations functions, students will develop an understanding of the interaction between law and practice. This is essential to a proper understanding of the UN Organization, but also to the possibilities and limitations of multilateral institutions more generally. The course is organized in four parts. Part I, “Relevance”, raises some preliminary questions about the legitimacy and effectiveness of the United Nations, particularly in the area of peace and security. Part II, “Capacity”, brings together materials on the nature and status of the United Nations. Part III, “Practice”, examines how the United Nations has exercised its various powers. Part IV, “Accountability”, concludes with materials on responsibility and accountability of the United Nations and its agents.

Prerequisites

TopNUS Compulsory Core Law Curriculum or equivalent.

A background in public international law is strongly recommended. This is a demanding course that requires extensive preparation before class. Above and beyond reading the assigned materials, this means spending time reflecting on their content and preparing responses to the various questions that have been provided. Note in particular the requirement that you read the Introduction and Chapter 1 of the materials before the first class.

Schedule

Top

Unless otherwise indicated, classes are 12noon-3pm on Thursdays

Class 1 (Jan 17) – Introduction & Chapter 1: The UN Charter
Class 2 (Jan 24) – Chapter 2: Hard Cases
Class 3 (Jan 31) – Chapter 3: Hard Choices
Class 4 (Feb 7) – Chapters 4 & 5: Legal Status & The Secretary-General
Class 5 (Feb 14) – Chapters 6 & 7: Membership & Financing
Class 6 (Feb 21) – Chapter 8: Terrorism & WMD

-- Recess Week

Class 7 (Mar 7) – Chapters 9: Peace Operations & Peacebuilding
Class 8 (Mar 14) – Chapter 10: Sanctions
Class 9 (Mar 21) – Chapters 11 & 12: Sustainable Development and Good Governance
Class 10 (Mar 28) – Chapters 13 & 14: Human Rights & Rule of Law
Class 11 (Apr 4) – Chapters 15 & 16: Responsibility & Accountability
Class 12 (Apr 11) – Chapter 17: Reform

Assessment

TopAssessment will be on the basis of (a) class participation (20%), (b) four 500-word reaction papers written for four classes during the semester (30%), and (c) an open-book examination (50%).

Reaction Papers

Each student will be assigned four chapters to which he or she must write 500-word reaction papers. (In other words, in the course of the semester each student will write four papers.) A reaction paper should briefly address the materials in the chapter and can consider some of the questions. The papers are not, however, expected to answer every question. You may also raise your own questions or link the materials to other fact situations. Good reaction papers will engage with the materials, formulate a view on the topic(s) addressed, and defend those views.
 
The reaction papers must be emailed to lawsec@nus.edu.sg at least 72 hours before the start of the class for which that chapter has been assigned. The email should have the subject “UN Law – Reaction Paper” and the text of your “paper” should be in the body of the email, rather than as an attachment.
 
The first line of the reaction paper should be in the form: “Chapter <NUMBER> - Reaction paper by <YOUR NAME>”
 
All the papers will be uploaded to the IVLE discussion forum at least 48 hours before the start of the relevant class.
 
We expect all students to read all the reaction papers as well as the materials prior to each class.


Please note that the numbers refer to chapter numbers. The week in which each chapter will be discussed is found in the schedule.

3 - Dave, Paul, Sonya
4 - Eléonore, Jamin, Felix, Milena, Tobias
5 – Dave, Paul
6 – Paul
7 – 
8 – Eléonore, Felix, Frederik, Gina, Milena, Punkhuri, Shubhra, Zenzi
9 – Frederik, Gina, Sonya, Tobias
10 – Eléonore, Felix, Jamin, Punkhuri, Shubhra, Sonya, Spandana, Tobias, Zenzi
11 – Frederik, Jamin, Shubhra, Spandana
12 – Sonya, Spandana, Zenzi
13 – Dave, Jamin, Punkhuri
14 – Eléonore, Felix, Milena, Paul, Tobias
15 – Frederik, Spandana, Zenzi
16 – Dave, Milena, Punkhuri, Shubhra

Please note when the relevant chapters are assigned in the schedule and ensure that you submit your reaction paper on time.

Workload

Top3-0-0-0-10

Workload Components : A-B-C-D-E
A: no. of lecture hours per week
B: no. of tutorial hours per week
C: no. of lab hours per week
D: no. of hours for projects, assignments, fieldwork etc per week
E: no. of hours for preparatory work by a student per week

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