History of International Law: Seminar

Catalog description

The general historical introduction and seminar presentations and projects are designed to accentuate problems and issues which enable students to better understand the foundations of the law of nations and encourage independent research skills. SEM 903 History of International Law: Seminar (2) This seminar invites participants to choose between two basic projects, and within each project a virtually unlimited choice of concentration. The first three sessions are devoted to lectures by the instructor setting out some basic background in the field. Each Seminar participate is required to prepare a written project or paper and present the same orally to the Seminar. The final submission should take into account observations and criticisms made of the presentation.The course aims to offer instruction through the seminar method and independent research projects insight into the historical foundations and sources of the law of nations.The general historical introduction and seminar presentations and projects are designed to accentuate problems and issues which enable students to better understand the foundations of the law of nations and to encourage independent research skills.Accordingly, students of this seminar should: (1) develop a more profound understanding of alternative approaches to legal reasoning and of legal concepts, terms, and institutions within the framework of the history of international law; (2) enhance their skills of legal analysis (3) develop a greater awareness of concepts of legal science and legal system; (4) read in some depth on the contemporary relevant principal documents for their project and appropriate doctrinal writings.At the end of the course students should: (1) have a sound grounding in the aspect of the history of the law of nations which they have chosen to investigate; (2) be more demanding and rigorous in formulating and evaluating ideas and propositions;? (3) have a sense of the virtues and limitations of historical comparison as a method of scientific inquiry in law through the analysis of relevant national legislation; (4) have a thorough command of the main principles and rules of the law of nations which they have investigated; (5) give evidence of an ability to understand the other side of an argument, and better appreciate the strengths of an opposing view; (6) develop a willingness to question, to probe, to seek further information, and to display initiative in expanding one's knowledge (7) develop a command of the library and internet resources available for historical legal research.