The course purposes two main teaching objectives: to provide the students with a clear overview of some fundamental concepts and theories of contemporary philosophy of law, and to apply such concepts and theories to a number of current issues in international and European law. With regard to international law, the course will address the following conceptual and normative issues:
1. legal nature and legitimacy of international law
2. sources and interpretation of international law
3. theories of human rights
4. global cosmopolitanism and its critics
5. theory and practice of international refugee law
With regard to European law (ECHR and EU law) the course will approach the following topics:
1. European integration and theory of the legal system
2. Constitutional pluralism and interjudicial dialogue
3. The interpretation of EU law and of the ECHR
4. Theories of democracy and European Union
With regard to each topic of the course the students are expected to acquire a good knowledge of the most important theoretical positions at stake and of their political and legal consequences. The course will help students to increase their ability to reflect on the developments of international and European law in a critically and informed way, to take a stance on the subjects of the course and to argue for their own views. To that end, the course will include for seminar lectures, active participation by the students and class presentations.