Security Council in Global Public Law

This subject is not offered in 2013.

Applicants without legal qualifications should note that subjects are offered in the discipline of law at an advanced graduate level. While every effort will be made to meet the needs of students trained in other fields, concessions will not be made in the general level of instruction or assessment. Most subjects assume the knowledge usually acquired in a degree in law (LLB, JD or equivalent). Applicants should note that admission to some subjects in the Melbourne Law Masters will be dependent upon the individual applicant’s educational background and professional experience.

The Melbourne Law Masters welcomes applications from students with disabilities. The inherent academic requirements for study in the Melbourne Law Masters are:

• The ability to attend a minimum of 75% of classes and actively engage in the analysis and critique of complex materials and debate;
• The ability to read, analyse and comprehend complex written legal materials and complex interdisciplinary materials;
• The ability to clearly and independently communicate in writing a knowledge and application of legal principles and interdisciplinary materials and to critically evaluate these;
• The ability to clearly and independently communicate orally a knowledge and application of legal principles and interdisciplinary materials and critically evaluate these;
• The ability to work independently and as a part of a group;
• The ability to present orally and in writing legal analysis to a professional standard.

Students who feel their disability will inhibit them from meeting these inherent academic requirements are encouraged to contact the Disability Liaison Unit: www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability/

The Security Council in Global Public Law will be taught by two experts in international law: Dr Devika Hovell and Professor Gerry Simpson. They will adopt a political, ethical, historical and juridical approach to this key institution in international law. The course will appeal to students who are interested in advancing their knowledge of the international system (acquired in Principles of International Law) by focusing on – and critiquing the operation of – the central security organisation in the global order.

Principal topics will include:

• History, great powers and global governance
• Functions of the Security Council and subsidiary organs: Enforcer, law-maker, judge?
• The Security Council and legal accountability: Limits of the rule of law and judicial review
• The Security Council and political accountability: Demos, deliberation and dialogue
• Security Council reform and the concept of global public law.

A candidate who has successfully completed the subject should:

• Be able to think about, discuss and reflect on the field of international law anew.
• Acquire a good working knowledge of the Security Council and its interactions with other bodies, and with general international law.
• Be able to situate the Council in a history of Great Power management.

Take-home examination (100%) (25–28 October)
or
10,000 word research paper (100%) (27 November) on a topic approved by the subject coordinator

Core subject materials will be provided free of charge to all students. Some subjects require further texts to be purchased. Visit the Melbourne Law Masters website for more information about this subject.

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.