The course on Maintenance of Peace and Security falls into the didactic activities in the field of international law offered within the Corso di laurea in Servizi giuridici per la sicurezza territoriale e informatica. The course aims at offering to students a critical knowledge of the legal framework concerning the maintenance of international peace and security, in order for them to: (i) get acquainted with the main actors (in particular, the United Nations) and the fundamental rules concerning the use of armed force, the collective security system, the law of armed conflicts and international criminal justice; (ii) have the capacity to understand current phenomena strictly linked to the overall aims of the Corso di laurea, including international terrorism, the use of cybernetic force, the status of military personnel deployed abroad, the compatibility of the use of intelligence material with international law, etc. At the end of the course, students know and understand mentioned phenomena and are able to critically assess them.
teacher profile teaching materials
Part I: use of armed force in international law:
- Prohibition of the use of armed force in international law
- Self-defence and humanitarian intervention
- Focus on use of force and cybernetic attacks
Part II: the United Nations collective security system:
- Use of armed force authorized by the United Nations
- Peacekeeping operations
- Focus on measures to counter international terrorism
Part III: law of armed conflicts:
- International armed conflicts
- Non-international armed conflicts
- Focus on troops sent abroad and on their status
Part IV: international criminal justice:
- War crimes, crimes against humanity, the crime of genocide and the crime of aggression
- International criminal courts and tribunals
- Focus on terrorism as a crime under international law
Special part on countering international terrorism: reading uploaded on the e-learning platform.
Programme
The course introduces students to the basic rules concerning the maintenance of peace and international security. The course is divided into four parts. It considers the fundamental legal characteristics of the following issues: (i) use of force in international law; (ii) the United Nations collective security system; (iii) law of armed conflicts; (iv) repression of crimes under international law. In particular, each part addresses the following topics:Part I: use of armed force in international law:
- Prohibition of the use of armed force in international law
- Self-defence and humanitarian intervention
- Focus on use of force and cybernetic attacks
Part II: the United Nations collective security system:
- Use of armed force authorized by the United Nations
- Peacekeeping operations
- Focus on measures to counter international terrorism
Part III: law of armed conflicts:
- International armed conflicts
- Non-international armed conflicts
- Focus on troops sent abroad and on their status
Part IV: international criminal justice:
- War crimes, crimes against humanity, the crime of genocide and the crime of aggression
- International criminal courts and tribunals
- Focus on terrorism as a crime under international law
Core Documentation
General part: Natalino Ronzitti, Diritto internazionale dei conflitti armati, G. Giappichelli Editore, 2017, limited to: Parte I, cap. 1-4 (included); Parte II, cap. 1-3 (included); Parte IV (one chapter).Special part on countering international terrorism: reading uploaded on the e-learning platform.
Type of delivery of the course
Frontal lessons. PPT presentations are uploaded in the e-learning platforms. Should the current emergency situation continue, the course will be broadcast live on MS Teams. Slides and further material will be uploaded on the e-learning platforms.Attendance
Attendance is not mandatory. However, only students attending classes are admitted to the mid-term exam.Type of evaluation
Students attending classes (at least 80% of lessons) are admitted to a mid-term oral exam, on the following topics: use of force in international relations; collective security system of the United Nations. Students who pass the mid-term exam are admitted to the final oral exam, on the following topics: armed conflicts; international criminal justice. The final mark is the average between the two marks obtained in the mid-term exam and in the final exam. During both the mid-term and the final exams students answer to two questions, with the aim to evaluate whether they are able to use the proper legal-technical language and to assess their knowledge of mentioned topics. Students not attending classes and students who fail the mid-term exam are directly admitted to the final exam. During the final exam students answer to three/four questions, with the aim to evaluate whether they are able to use the proper legal-technical language and to assess their knowledges.