All students are required to write a short essay, (7-8 pages of text), critiquing international law in
general, or selecting a specific issue, general principle, convention, custom, resolution,
declaration, case, etc. within the international legal system. Due May 6
Your critique should include a detailed identification and definition of the
theme/issue/principle/case of international law you have chosen. Your discussion must include
your general impression, analysis and evaluation of international law in terms of strengths,
weaknesses, effectiveness, justice etc. It should also include an analysis of international law
from a perspective other than the Western tradition. This entails some research on your part
to find critical analyses of international law, for example, from a Third World, Feminist,
Environmental, Marxist, etc. perspectives. You must incorporate at least two articles from
scholarly journals in your analysis/evaluation of international law.
Choosing a topic in international law for critical review-
-International law is a vast and complex field. You should choose a topic within international
law, (or a specific issue/problem), that interest you. You may select any aspect of international
law cover in the text or in class discussions.
-You may wish to select emerging doctrines within international law that are still controversial
and debated among states, such as humanitarian intervention, pre-emptive war, “responsibility to
protect” etc. You might wish to use the essays by Anghie, and/or Charlesworth, Chinkin &
wright as guidelines.
-There can be chapters that won’t be cover in class – where you can find other legal issues of
interest
-Other general suggestions: International labor issues/relations, Environmental International law,
International criminal law, international humanitarian law, international tribunal/cases.
Things you must not do:
-Download from Wikipedia or any other online source
-Copy large sections word for word, or in paraphrased form
-Use quotations excessively to fill 7-8 pages
-Use an author’s critique/comments/analysis as your own (the essay must be written in your own
words reflecting your own understanding and critical analysis of international law)
-Do not wait until May to begin your essay
