FACULTY OF LAW

LECTURER: ASSOC. PROF. ROHANI BINTI MD. SHAH

March 2015 Sept 2015
COURSE INFORMATION
Program of Study

BACHELOR IN LEGAL STUDIES (HONS)

Course Code

LAW 510

Course Title

PUBLIC INTERNATIONAL LAW 1

Credit Hours

Course
Pre-requisite

NONE

Course Objectives

Upon completion of the course, students should be able

to:
2.1 understand
international law;

the

general

principles

of

public

2.2 identify and analyze various problems that arise in

the major areas of international law;
2.3 apply the legal principles to the factual situation;
2.4 examine the ways in which the principles of public
international law are applied in contemporary issues in
international law.

Synopsis of Course
Contents

This course introduces the principles of public

international law and presents the essential elements of
the international legal system through a range of topics

and to address international law from a variety of

perspectives.
Assessment

EVALUATION
Examination
Continuous Assessment

Lecturer Room

C3/314

Telephone

03 5543 5854
019 35 333 61

Email
Day
Time
Room
Group

60%
40%

rohanimohdshah@yahoo.com
:
:
:
:

Please refer to your schedule provided by the

coordinator PLK FUU 2015

TEACHING
SCHEDULE

FIRST HALF SEMESTER

ACADEMIC YEAR

THIRD YEAR / BLS (HONS.) / LW 213

SEMESTER

MARCH 2014 SEPT 2014

WEEK 1

TOPIC 1 : NATURE OF INTERNATIONAL LAW

Development of
International law

Definition of international law

Historical evolution of international law

WEEK 2

TOPIC 2: ACCEPTANCE OF INTERNATIONAL LAW IN

MALAYSIA

Acceptance of
international law
in Malaysia

Strength and weaknesses of international law

Juristic basis of international law

WEEK 3

TOPIC 3: SOURCE OF INTERNATIONAL LAW

The reasoning and

hierarchy of the
source of
international law

Article 38 of the Statute of the ICJ:

Customary international law
Treaties
Judicial decision & juristic writings
General principles of law recognized by civilized

WEEK 4

TOPIC 4: THE LAW OF TREATIES

The Important of
Treatise in
international law

Classification of treaties
Formalities of treaties
The making of treaties
Unilateral acts

WEEK 5

TOPIC 4: THE LAW OF TREATIES

The fundamental
rules of the
interpretation of
the law of treatise

Reservations to treaties
Scope of legal obligations
General principles of Interpretation of treaties
Termination of Treaties

WEEK 6
Identifying the
actor or the
subject of
international law
WEEK 7

TOPIC 5: SUBJECTS/ INTERNATIONAL PERSONALITY

STATES AS SUBJECTS OF INTERNATIONAL LAW
Criteria of statehood

STUDY BREAK
Please collect :
a. The question for your assignment
b. The case study assigned to you
Submission is on the first class after the break.

WEEK 8

TOPIC 6 : SUBJECTS OF INTERNATIONAL LAW OTHERS

Other subjects
and the status of
individuals in
international law

International Organisation
Individual
How State is made responsible / liable to their act?
Insurgent
Liberation movement Recognition
Self Determination Principle but no more now

WEEK 9

TOPIC 7: NATURE OF STATES IN GENERAL

Characteristic of
state in
international law

Doctrine of rights and duties of state

Self determination principle: Then and Now
Sovereignty and equality of states
Theories of recognition
Constitutive theory
Declaratory theory

WEEK 10

TOPIC 8: RECOGNITION

Rules of
recognitions of
state sovereignty

Categories of recognition
De jure
De facto
Recognition of governments
Legal effect of recognition
Retroactivity of recognition

WEEK 11

TOPIC 9: TERRITORY

Acquiring the
jurisdiction of
State

Acquisition of territorial sovereignty

Occupation
Annexation
Accretion
Cessions
Prescription
Loss of territorial sovereignty :Modes
Conquest and subjugation
Cession
Operation of nature

WEEK 12

TOPIC 10: PRESCRIPTION JURISDICTION

Methods of
acquiring
jurisdiction of
State

Territorial principle
Nationality principle
Protective principle
Passive Personality principle
Universality principle

WEEK 13

TOPIC 11: EXCEPTIONS TO THE EXERCISE OF

JURISDICTION/ IMMUNITY

Immunity in
international law

Immunity in international customary law

Royalties : Sultan Johor s Case (Albert Baker)
Immunity and its limitation
Treaty on Immunity
Ambassador
The premises
The nature of obligation
Diplomatic agents
Foreign embassy
Foreign sovereign
Public property of foreign sovereign state
International organization
Foreign public vessel : The Lotus 1927 no more
Foreign armed forces :The UN Case : Congo

WEEK 14

TOPIC 13: STATE RESPONSIBILITY & LIABILITY

Determining the

Meaning of the expression state responsibility

responsibility of
state in
international law

Types of state responsibility

State responsibility for breach of treaty obligations

WEEK 15
Determining
the
responsibility
of
state
in
international law

TOPIC 14 : REMEDIES
Contractual obligations
Expropriation of foreign property
International delinquencies
Limitation of state responsibility in treatise
American soldiers

IMPORTANT
DATES:
Course work
30 % marks

MAIN REFERENCE

; ICC and

Submission dates.
1.Assignments in Case Review - 10 % marks
2 Take Home Test 1 10 % :
3.Take Home Test 2 10 % :

M. Shaw, International Law (Cambridge: Cambridge

University Press, 5th edn., 2004)
I. Brownlie, Principles of Public International Law,
(Oxford: Oxford University Press, 6th edn., 2003).
I. Brownlie, Basic documents in international law, 4th
edn. (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1995)
R. Higgins, Problems and Process: International Law
and How We Use It (Oxford: Oxford University Press,
1994
D.J Harris, Cases and Materials on International Law
(Sweet & Maxwell)
OBrien, John, International Law (Cavendish
Publishing, 2001)
Cassese, A. International Law (Oxford University
Press, 2005)

REFERENCES

Albert, Stuart and Edward C. Luck (eds.). On the

Endings of Wars. Nennikat Press, New York: 1980.
Brown, Seyom. The Causes and Prevention of War. 2nd
Ed. St. Martins Press, New York: 1994.
Brownlie, Ian (ed.). Basic Documents in International
Law. 4th Ed. Clarendon Press, Oxford: 1995.
Carter Center. State of World Conflict Report: 19911992. International Negotiation Network, Atlanta: 1993.
De Lupis, Ingrid Detter. The Law of War. Cambridge
University Press, New York: 1987.

Kegley, Charles W. Jr. (ed.). The Long Postwar Peace:

Contending Explanations and Projections. Harper
Collins Publishers, New York: 1991.
Newcombe, Hanna. Peace Research Reviews: Peace
Research Since 1984. Vol XIV-3. Dundas Printin,
Ontario: 1997.
Nobel, Jaap (ed). The Coming of Age of Peace
Research: Studies in the Development of a Discipline.
STYX Pulications, Groningen: 1991.
Payne, Samuel B Jr. The Conduct of War: An
Introduction to Modern Warfare. pp 265- 271. Basil
Blackwell, Oxford: 1989.
Smoker, Paul and Ruth Davies et al. (eds.). A Reader
in Peace Studies. Pergamon Press, Exeter: 1990.
Tickner, J. Ann. Gender In International Relations:
Feminist Perspectives on Achieving Global Security.
Columbia UP, New York: 1992.
Vayrynen, Raimo (ed.). The Quest For Peace:
Transcending Collective Violence and War among
Societies, Cultures and States. Sage Publications,
London: 1987.
Zartman, William and Lewis Rasmussen (eds.).
Peacemaking in International Conflict Methods and
Techniques. US Institute of Peace Press, Washington:
1997.

ARTICLES FROM
JOURNALS AND
PERIODICALS

Bertram, Eva. "Reinventing Governments: the Promise

and Perils of United Nations Peace Building." Journal
of Conflict Resolution. Vol 39 No. 3. pp 387-418. Sage
Publications, London: 1995.
Castillo del, Graciana. "Post-conflict Peace-building: a
challenge for the United Nations." Cepal Review. Vol
55. pp 27-38. 1995.
Delmas, Philippe. "Can There Be A Policy Of Peace?"
What Kind of Security.UNESCO, Paris: 1998.
Dupuy, Rene-Dupuy. "Security in the Twenty-first
Century and the Culture of Peace." What Kind of
Security. UNESCO, Paris: 1998.
Espiell, Hector Gros. "Universal International Security
and Regional Security." What Kind of Security.
UNESCO, Paris: 1998
Gallik, Daniel (ed.). "World Military Expenditures and
Arms Transfers 1995," 24th Ed. U.S. Arms Control and
Disarmament Agency. pp 1-23. April 1996.
Hall, Robin. "How Children Think and Feel About War
and Peace." Journal of Peace Research. Vol 30 No. 2,

pp 181-196. Sage Publications, London: 1993.

Han, Sonia K. "Building a Peace That Lasts: The
United Nations and Post-Civil War Peace-building."
New York University Journal of International Law and
Politics. Vol 26, pp 837-892. New York UP, New York:
1994.
Krohn-Hansen, Christian. "The Anthropology and
Ethnography of Political Violence." Journal of Peace
Research. Vol 34 No. 2, pp 233-240. Sage
Publications, London: 1997.
Lumsden, Malvern. "Breaking the Cycle of Violence."
Journal of Peace Research. Vol 34 No. 4, pp 377-383.
Sage Publications, London: 1997.
Mor, Ben D. "Peace Initiatives and Public Opinion: The
Domestic Context of Conflict Resolution." Journal of
Peace Research. Vol 34 No. 2, pp 197-215. Sage
Publications, London: 1997.
Newcombe, Hanna. "Peace Research Since 1984."
Peace Research Reviews. Vol 14. No. 3. Newcombe,
Ontario: 1997.
Noortmann, Math. "The Obligation to Settle Disputes
by Peaceful Means." pp. 105-118. The Relationship
between the Right To Take Countermeasures and the
Obligation to Settle Disputes by Peaceful Means.
1997.
Parajon, Francisco Lacayo and Mirta Lourenco et al.
"The UNESCO Culture of Peace Programme in El
Salvador." International Journal of Peace Studies. Vol
1. No. 2., Formosa College: July 1996.
Paris, Roland. "Peacebuilding and the Limits of Liberal
Internationalism." International Security. Vol 22. No. 1.,
MIT Press, Cambridge: 1997.
Rotfeld, Adam Daniel. "Transformation of the World
Security System." Stockholm International Peace
Research Institute Yearbook 1998: Armaments,
Disarmament and International Security. Oxford UP,
London: 1998.
Sollenberg, Margareta and Peter Wallensteen. "Major
Armed Conflicts." Stockholm International Peace
Research Institute Yearbook 1998: Armaments,
Disarmament and International Security. Oxford UP,
London: 1998.
Starr, Harvey. "Democracy and Integration: Why
Democracies Dont Fight Each Other." Journal of
Peace Research. Vol 34 No. 2, pp 153-162. Sage
Publications, London: 1997.
Taylor, Colonel Terence (ed.). "Defence Expenditures"
The Military Balance 1998/99. p 300. Oxford UP,
London: 1998.

Werner, Suzanne. "In Search of Security: Relative

Gains and Losses in Dyadic Relations." Journal of
Peace Research. Vol 34 No. 3, pp 289-302. Sage
Publications, London: 1997.

Adams, David. UNESCO and a Culture of Peace:

Promoting a Global Movement. UNESCO Publishing,
Paris: 1997.
Annan, Kofi. The Quotable Kofi Annan. UN Department
of Public Information, New York: 1998.
Bernard, Jessie, T. H. Pear et al (eds.). The Nature of
Conflict: Studies on the Socialogical Aspects of
International Tensions. UNESCO Publishing, Paris:
1957.
Delmas, Philippe and Rene-Jean Dupuy et al. Towards
a Culture of Peace: What Kind of Security. UNESCO
Publishing, Paris: 1998.
Ghali, Boutros Boutros. An Agenda for Peace. United
Nations, New York: 1995.
Ghali, Boutros Boutros. Building Peace and
Development. United Nations, New York: 1994.
Ruel, Susan and Alice Rooth (eds.). Promoting a
Cutlure for Peace in the Middle East: An InsraeliPalestinian Dialogue. UN Department of Public
Information, New York: 1993.
UNESCO. Action Programme to Promote a Culture of
Peace Summary. UNESCO Publishing 141st
Session, Paris: 1993.
UNESCO. "Building a Culture of Peace in Latin
America." No. 86, UNESCO Sources: January 1997.
UNESCO. "Declaration on the Role of Religion in the
Promotion of a Culture of Peace." UNESCO
Publishing, Barcelona: 1994.
UNESCO. "First Consultative Meeting of the Culture of
Peace Progrmme Paris, 27-29 September 1994 Final
Report." CPP-94/CONF.601/3.
UNESCO. "Male Roles and Masculinities in the
Perspective of a Culture of Peace Expert Group
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UNESCO Executive Board. "Preliminary Consolidated
Report To The United Nation on a Culture of Peace
154 EX/42." UNESCO Publishing, Paris: 1998.
UNESCO. "Towards a Culture of Peace in Somalia
Final Report Symposium on The Culture of Peace in
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UNESCO. "Towards a Culture of Peace in The Sudan

UNITED NATIONS AND

UNESCO PUBLICATIONS

RESOLUTIONS

INTERNET SOURCES

Final Report Symposium on The Fundamental

Problems of The Sudan." UNESCO Publishing,
Barcelona: 1995.
UNESCO. "Towards a Global Culture of Peace
Working Paper." Culture of Peace Programme.
UNESCO Publishing, Manila: 1995.
UNESCO. "Transformation Towards a Culture of
Peace." Second International Forum on the Culture of
Peace The Manila Forum. UNESCO Publishing,
Manila: 1995.
UNESCO. "Womens Contribution to a Culture of
Peace." Fourth World Conference on Women.
UNESCO Publishing, Beijing: 1995.
UNESCO. "Womens Contribution to a Culture of
Peace Expert Group Meeting Report." UNESCO
Publishing, Manila: 1995
United Nations 52nd session - General Assembly
Resolution A/RES/52/13.
15 January 1998.
United Nations - General Assembly Resolution
A/RES/51/101.
12 December 1996.
United Nations - General Assembly Resolution
A/RES/51/104.
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United Nations - General Assembly Resolution
A/RES/50/173.
22 December 1995.

Decharriere, Prefet Christian (ed). "The Politics of

Defence and Security in the Security of Peace."
UNESCO, Paris: 1996.
http://www.unesco.org/cpp/uk/projects/insecurity/symp
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Jean, Carlo (ed). "The Social and Cultural Roots of
Insecurity." UNESCO, Paris: 1996.
http://www.unesco.org/cpp/uk/projects/insecurity/symp
ol/tr2.html
Sahnoun, Mohammed. "The Mechanisms and
approaches for the resolution of conflicts." UNESCO,
Paris: 1996.
http://www.unesco.org/cpp/uk/projects/insecurity/symp
ol/tr3.html
INCORE: Initiative on Conflict Resolution and

STATUTES

Ethinicity. "Addis Ababa Areement, 27 March 1993."

http://www.incore.ulst.ax.uk/cds/agreements/somalia.ht
ml
"Safeguarding Peace: Cambodias Constitutional
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http://www.c-r.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/cstdy
Sayyad, Ahmed (ed). "Conditions of the Security of
Development." UNESCO, Paris: 1996.
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Webb, Keith. "Third-Party Intervention and the Ending
of Wars." University of Kent

Please refer to the Compilation of Selected Conventions

suggested by Faculty [2013].

REVISE TOPICS PRIOR TO PUBLIC INTERNATIONAL LAW [LAW 510]

GUIDE :
You only need to browse through the topics below from the subject Contemporary
Global and Legal Issues and in your own time attempt the exercises below.
NO

SUBJECTS

1.

Introduction to the subject of contemporary global legal issues and public

international law

2.

The World Legal System.

a. The focus will be on The State as actor in the world legal system.
b. Comparison with Islamic State
c. Malaysia as Islamic State
d. Non- State Compliance and Israels position.
e. Prosecution upon Head of State

3.

Global Conflict
a. The law of War
b. Fall of Communist States
c. International Criminal Law & International Crimes
d. Terrorism & Security of State
e. Deterrence of Arms control & nuclear war

4.

Regional/ Global Organizations

a. ASEAN
b. EU
c. UN ORG
d. COMMONWEALTH
e. OIC
International Courts :
ICJ & ITLOS

5.

Global Human Rights Issues

a. The origin and effects on human
b. The Declaration of Human Rights & States acceptance
c. Position of women & children
Freedom of religion

6.

Global Population

a.
b.
c.
d.

The world population

Immigrant & Refugee
Human Trafficking
Slavery

7.

Health Issues
a. Global Perspective & health crisis
b. WHO
c. Human Cloning & advancement of medical technology

8.

Global Environment Issue

a. Pollution (Air, Marine, Water and Land)
b. Global Warming & effects on life

9.

Economic Issue
a. WTO
b. AFTA
c. GATT
d. GATTs
e. Child Labor

10.

Energy Issue
a. The global energy
How severe is the influence to life

11.

Water Issue
a. Global warming
b. Flooding due to reclamation
c. Tsunami

12.

Humanitarian Intervention
Is this act - intervention a necessity

13

Democracy & Invasion of State

The Defense of Domestic Matters

14

The different between contemporary global legal issue and public international
law on other related global issue
Identify which are the subjects considers as public international law and which
are not.