I/02 Foundational Courses

Legal Theory and Economic Analysis of International Law

This course addresses the theoretical underpinning of international law. Why do nations comply with international law at all? Under what circumstances should we expect greater or lesser compliance? Though some attention is given to traditional legal thought on the subject, for the most part the course adopts a law and economics approach to the question, treating states as rational actors. We will explore why international agreements look as they do, how states choose between hard and soft law (among other things), and the role played by international tribunals.

The theoretical approach will be complemented with selected inquiries into the rules and practices of the WTO, including negotiation of WTO agreements, dispute resolution, compliance and non-compliance, unilateralism, and the relationship between trade and the environment.  

We welcome interested individuals as weekly students in this course. As a weekly student you do not need any knowledge of the field to participate. The price of signing up to this course as a weekly student is CHF 1'000.

In order to participate in this course, join our MILE Programme or sign up as a weekly student. Contact us if you require more information and we will gladly be of assistance.

Law of Treaties and Interpretation

The course will be focused on a particular source of international law, namely the law of treaties. Treaties (or conventions), which are one of the most important sources of international law, will be considered under all their main legal aspects: the definition of conventional acts; the conclusion and validity of conventions; the interplay of treaties with the municipal law of the States; reservations to treaties; the scope of validity of treaties; the relationship of treaties with other sources of international law, namely customary law; the effect of treaties on third States; the interpretation of treaties; the modification of treaties; the termination of treaties. Moreover, the political importance of the treaty sphere will be considered, including in particular aspects relevant to the law: e.g. the movement towards the codification of international law.

Semester long courses in law, economics and global political economy are not open to the public.