Learning objectives

The programme provides a wide-ranging analysis of institutional and normative aspects of the gov-ernance of international crises. The aim of the course is to provide students with the ability to understand functions, purposes and characteristics of the international intervention in areas of crisis. In this respect, students will develop an in-depth knowledge of the legal and institutional framework for military humanitarian interventions, of the rules of engagements of military contingents deployed in host-states and of the accountability mechanisms addressing their violations. In line with the aims of the masters’ programme, in particular concerning the acquisition of legal skills, students will acquire the capacity to identify the applicable legal regime and to apply it to concrete situations, while seeking possible solutions through sound legal reasoning and argumentation.

Prerequisites and basic notions

None

Program

1) International crises today: a conceptual outline
2) Fundamentals of public international law: subjects, sources, responsibility, the use of force and self-defence
3) Threats to the peace and international security: the role of the United Nations, Regional Organizations and Coalition of States, with particular reference to peace-keeping, peace-enforcement e peace-building
4) Covid-19 and International law
5) Fundamentals of international humanitarian law
6) The protection of cultural heritage in crisis areas
7) International disaster law and risk reduction and risk prevention in disaster management
8) The protection of human rights in time of global crisis
9) Climate crisis
10) The fight against international terrorism

Didactic methods

Classes will be based on frontal lectures - devoted to the transmission of key notions and concepts and supported by PowerPoint presentations - and group discussions on cases. In order to be able to actively participate in class, students will be required to read in advance the decisions that are going to be analyzed. Legal materials, relevant decisions and further readings will be posted on the e-learning platform.

Learning assessment procedures

Students attending classes will be evaluated by means of a written exam aimed at verifying the knowledge of the topics of the course. The exam will involve multiple choices questions and some open questions as well.
Students not attending classes will be evaluated by means of an oral exam. Students should demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the following material:
1) A. Tanzi, Introduzione al diritto internazionale contemporaneo, Cedam, 202, pp. 60-509;
2) F. Casolari, Prime considerazioni sull’azione dell’Unione ai tempi del Coronavirus, in EUROJUS, 2020, 7, pp. 95 – 106
http://rivista.eurojus.it/wp-content/uploads/pdf/Casolari-coronavirus.pdf;
3) G. Bartolini, Il Progetto di articoli della Commissione del diritto internazionale sulla "Protection of Persons in the Event of Disasters", in RIVISTA DI DIRITTO INTERNAZIONALE, 2017, 100(3), pp. 677-718;
4) A. Zanobetti/M.I. Papa, Eccidio di Roccaraso: giurisdizione italiana e immunità degli Stati dalla giurisdizione civile, in IL CORRIERE GIURIDICO, 2018, pp. 788 – 798;
5) M. Balboni/C. Danisi, Reframing Human Rights in Russia and China. How National Identity and National Interests Shape Relations with, and the Implementation of, International Law., in: Rekindling the Strong State in Russia and China, Leiden, Brill, 2020, pp. 61 – 78.

Evaluation criteria

The written and the oral test are both devoted to verifying the knowledge of the fundamentals of International Law, as explained in class and dealt with in the reading materials.

Criteria for the composition of the final grade

Written test
The grade will be calculated according to the formula detailed below: 1) multiple choice questions: 1,5 points for every correct answer, 0,5 points will be deducted for any wrong/missing answer; 2) short answer question: max 4 points; 3) essay question: max 10 points.
Oral test
Every answer will be graded on a 10 point scale (with 10 point scores being the maximum and 6 point scores the minimum).
In both cases the final grade will be expressed in thirtieths.

Exam language

Italiano

Sustainable Development Goals - SDGs

Questa iniziativa contribuisce al perseguimento degli Obiettivi di Sviluppo Sostenibile dell'Agenda 2030 dell'ONU.
Maggiori informazioni su www.univr.it/sostenibilita