This course is designed to provide students with an introduction to basic principles of international law and the international organizations that create and implement it.  We will begin with an examination of the fundamentals of international law and its broader position within international politics.  We will then turn to an examination of some of the substantive areas of international law, focusing on real world case studies and applications of international law in a variety of settings.  Students will learn what forms of law make up international law; how international law is made and by whom; to whom international law applies; and the specific rules of international law regarding such subject areas as international organizations, state sovereignty and responsibility, war, human rights, trade, and the environment.  Students will apply these concepts during an in-class international moot court simulation exercise towards the end of the semester.

The goal of this course, therefore, is to enhance your understanding of global environmental politics.  This course will addresses a number of specific questions:  What are the main debates on the global environment?; What steps have been taken at the international level to address environmental problems?; What role do domestic and international politics play in shaping the global environmental debate?; What solutions have been proposed and should be proposed to address these issues?  The objective of this course is to facilitate your understanding of each of these issues and encourage the application of this foundational knowledge to current global environmental policy.

Research Interests