Overview

Students taking International Criminal Law will receive a balanced and thorough understanding of the fundamentals of International Criminal Law, which focuses on individual criminal responsibility for international crimes. Students will examine relevant laws and leading cases ranging from the judgments of the International Military Tribunals at Nuremberg and Tokyo to the explosion of jurisprudence that began with the ad hoc tribunals in the 1990s responding to the commission of international crimes in the former Yugoslavia and Rwanda. Students will develop a thorough understanding of the four core crimes, namely genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes and the crime of aggression. Some time will be devoted to the the laws of armed conflict, which is essential for a complete understanding of the concept of war crimes. Students will be taught not just about the content of the rules, but also how to apply them, through examination of contemporary issues and situations of importance in international law, and case studies. The approach taken in the course encourages critical thinking and reflection, as well the development of a global perspective.

As this course is open to MA students as well as LLM students, the content of the course may need to be adjusted depending on the legal background of the students in the class in any given year.

Assessment Strategy

-threshold-C- to C+ (50-59%) · Demonstrate knowledge of key areas/principles. · Have some, if only limited, evidence of background study. · Be focussed on the question with only some irrelevant material and weaknesses in structure. · Attempt to present relevant and logical arguments. · Not contain a large number of factual/computational errors. · Describe major links between topics. · Attempt to analyse and/or explain problems. · Be free of major weaknesses in presentation and accuracy. -good -B- to B+ (60-69%) · Demonstrate strong knowledge and understanding of most of the subject area. · Demonstrate evidence of background study. · Be well structured and focused. · Contain coherently presented arguments. · Be mostly free of factual/computational errors. · Include some elements of original interpretation. · Describe well known links between topics. · Analyse and/or explain problems using existing methods/approaches. · Be presented to high standards with accurate communication. -excellent -A- to A* (70%+) · Demonstrate comprehensive knowledge and detailed understanding of the subject area. · Demonstrate extensive background study. · Be well structured and highly focused. · Contain logically presented and defended arguments. · Be free of factual/computational errors. · Include significant elements of original interpretation. · Demonstrate an ability to identify, develop and present new links between topics. · Include new approaches to analysing and/or explaining a problem. · Be presented to very high standards with very accurate communication.

Learning Outcomes

• Critically analyse leading decisions of international courts and tribunals, and masterfully evaluate the contribution that these decisions have made to international criminal law.

• Demonstrate a sophisticated and comprehensive understanding of the principles of International Criminal Law, including the main institutions that apply this law.

• Demonstrate a sophisticated understanding of the challenges that this area of the law has faced, and identify and evaluate potential future challenges for international criminal law.

• Extensively evaluate foundational concepts, fundamental rules and core crimes in the field of international criminal law, and masterfully apply these in the context of contemporary international challenges.

• Masterfully demonstrate extensive and mature research skills and methods of communication that are appropriate to this field of international law.