Prevention of Abuse of Law in International Relations (in English)

This course aims to acquaint students with how international law is used by states in the current system of international relations. Students will be offered an overview of the main problems of misuse of international law and possible approaches to their explanation. The participants of the class will discuss the application and the added value of the concept of lawfare, the current trend to seek the symbolic results of the application of international law instead of substantive results. Other latest challenges for international law will be discussed, including but not limited to the existence of international law in the era of post-truth and alternative facts, the fulfillment of international obligations in the post-shame era etc. It is expected that the participants of the course have already have mastered the history and theory of international law.