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International Law, Weapons & Disarmament (LAWS90270)
Graduate courseworkPoints: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)
About this subject
- Overview
- Eligibility and requirements
- Assessment
- Dates and times
- Further information
- Timetable (login required)(opens in new window)
Contact information
March
Lecturer
Charlotte Peevers (Coordinator)
Email: law-masters@unimelb.edu.au
Phone: 13 MELB (13 6352), International: +(61 3) 9035 5511
Website: law.unimelb.edu.au
Overview
Availability(Quotas apply) | March |
---|---|
Fees | Look up fees |
This subject examines the progress towards disarmament, a fundamental pillar of the UN Charter order said to underpin the peaceful settlement of disputes and the avoidance of military conflict. Throughout the UN Charter era the scope, definition, and goals of disarmament have been the subject of perpetual struggle with a range of relevant actors – including states, international organisations, companies, and ‘civil society’ groups – influencing the process and ambitions of weapons regulation and disarmament.
Yet despite this wide range of diverse actors, legal doctrine and orthodox accounts continue to focus attention on inter-state initiatives and, in particular, ‘great power’ actions. This subject offers a broader analysis, taking a theoretically and historically engaged approach to assessing the development and prospects of progress towards disarmament.
Principal topics will include:
- Introduction to issues of weapons, disarmament and international law. How is disarmament defined? What are the goals of disarmament? What threats is disarmament meant to address, and how?
- Histories of weapons regulation and disarmament in international law charting late 19th century efforts, the League of Nations, and the early UN Charter and revolutionary decolonisation era.
- Legal frameworks in disarmament law including weapons prohibitions, regulation, and non-proliferation.
- Major milestones. How were they achieved, who were the relevant actors, and what have been the effects? eg test bans, Nuclear Free Zones, etc.
- WMD focus: the non-proliferation regime (NPT) as case study. How is proliferation risk policed/managed? What are the features of this form of disarmament? How are the goals of disarmament served by the NPT regime?
- WMD focus: the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW). What is the history of the TPNW? How does it seek to achieve the goals of disarmament? Who are the relevant actors? How does it relate to the NPT regime?
- The future of disarmament for international law. Where to now? How and by whom?
Intended learning outcomes
A student who has successfully completed this subject should be able to:
- Define disarmament, its goals in addressing threats through international law and critically analyse and discuss disarmament measures,
- Explain the history of weapons regulation and disarmament in international law from the late 19th century to the present,
- Compare and contrast legal frameworks in disarmament law, including weapons prohibitions, regulation, and non-proliferation measures,
- Interpret major milestones in disarmament, their achievers, and their effects (e.g., test bans, Nuclear Free Zones),
- Examine and analyse the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW), its history, actors involved, and its relationship with the NPT regime,
- Analyse the future of disarmament in international law, including the challenges, paths forward, and the roles of different stakeholders.
Generic skills
- Develop a comprehensive understanding of the evolving knowledge in the specific area(s) of law.,
- Demonstrate the ability to conduct thorough investigations, evaluate information, synthesize findings, and apply existing knowledge creatively and independently in the relevant area(s) of law,
- Effectively communicate complex legal ideas and theories, both orally and in writing, to diverse audiences,
- Recognise the role of knowledge as a foundation for effective leadership in the legal field,
- Appreciate the significance and value of knowledge in contributing to the broader community,
- Engage with and critically analyse contemporary societal issues within the context of the law,
- Utilise and apply new technologies for legal research and work purposes.
Last updated: 29 February 2024
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
Option 1
Admission into a Melbourne Law Masters program
Code | Name | Teaching period | Credit Points |
---|---|---|---|
LAWS70173 | International Law |
April (On Campus - Parkville)
February (Dual-Delivery - Parkville)
July (On Campus - Parkville)
March (On Campus - Parkville)
|
12.5 |
Or equivalent prior study
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
None
Recommended background knowledge
This subject examines the progress towards disarmament, a fundamental pillar of the UN Charter order said to underpin the peaceful settlement of disputes and the avoidance of military conflict. Throughout the UN Charter era the scope, definition, and goals of disarmament have been the subject of perpetual struggle with a range of relevant actors – including states, international organisations, companies, and ‘civil society’ groups – influencing the process and ambitions of weapons regulation and disarmament.
Yet despite this wide range of diverse actors, legal doctrine and orthodox accounts continue to focus attention on inter-state initiatives and, in particular, ‘great power’ actions. This subject offers a broader analysis, taking a theoretically and historically engaged approach to assessing the development and prospects of progress towards disarmament.
Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)
The University of Melbourne is committed to providing students with reasonable adjustments to assessment and participation under the Disability Standards for Education (2005), and the Assessment and Results Policy (MPF1326). Students are expected to meet the core participation requirements for their course. These can be viewed under Entry and Participation Requirements for the course outlines in the Handbook.
Further details on how to seek academic adjustments can be found on the Student Equity and Disability Support website: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity/home
Last updated: 29 February 2024
Assessment
Description | Timing | Percentage |
---|---|---|
Class participation | During the teaching period | 10% |
Class Journal: reflection on a topic or overarching theme
| 1 Weeks after the end of teaching | 20% |
Research essay
| 22 May 2024 | 70% |
Hurdle requirement: A minimum of 75% attendance is required. | N/A |
Last updated: 29 February 2024
Quotas apply to this subject
Dates & times
- March
Principal coordinator Charlie Peevers Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours Total time commitment 150 hours Pre teaching start date 23 February 2024 Pre teaching requirements Please refer to the Reading Guide on the LMS subject page for confirmation of which resources need to be read and what other preparation is required before the teaching period commences. Teaching period 22 March 2024 to 28 March 2024 Last self-enrol date 28 February 2024 Census date 25 March 2024 Last date to withdraw without fail 26 April 2024 Assessment period ends 22 May 2024 March contact information
Lecturer
Charlotte Peevers (Coordinator)
Email: law-masters@unimelb.edu.au
Phone: 13 MELB (13 6352), International: +(61 3) 9035 5511
Website: law.unimelb.edu.au
What do these dates mean
Visit this webpage to find out about these key dates, including how they impact on:
- Your tuition fees, academic transcript and statements.
- And for Commonwealth Supported students, your:
- Student Learning Entitlement. This applies to all students enrolled in a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP).
Subjects withdrawn after the census date (including up to the ‘last day to withdraw without fail’) count toward the Student Learning Entitlement.
Additional delivery details
This subject has a quota of 30 students.
Enrolment is on a 'first in' basis. Waitlists are maintained for subjects that are fully subscribed.
Students should note priority of waitlisted places in subjects will be given as follows:
- To currently enrolled Graduate Diploma and Masters students with a satisfactory record in their degree
- To other students enrolling on a single subject basis, eg Community Access Program (CAP) students, cross-institutional study and cross-faculty study.
Please refer to the Melbourne Law Masters website for further information about the management of subject quotas and waitlists.
Melbourne Law School may reserve places in a subject for incoming international cohorts or where a subject is core to a specialisation with limited alternate options.
Last updated: 29 February 2024
Further information
- Texts
Prescribed texts
Specialist materials will be made available via the LMS in the pre-teaching period.
- Links to additional information
- Available through the Community Access Program
About the Community Access Program (CAP)
This subject is available through the Community Access Program (also called Single Subject Studies) which allows you to enrol in single subjects offered by the University of Melbourne, without the commitment required to complete a whole degree.
Entry requirements including prerequisites may apply. Please refer to the CAP applications page for further information.
Additional information for this subject
If required, please contact law-masters@unimelb.edu.au for subject coordinator approval.
- Available to Study Abroad and/or Study Exchange Students
This subject is available to students studying at the University from eligible overseas institutions on exchange and study abroad. Students are required to satisfy any listed requirements, such as pre- and co-requisites, for enrolment in the subject.
Last updated: 29 February 2024