Law permeates global politics. The purpose of this course is to provide students with an understanding of how international law and politics interact. We will study both the political foundations of international law - how law is made, broken and enforced - as well as how law shapes international (and domestic) politics. We will ask questions such as: why do countries bother committing to international law at all? Why do countries comply with the law in some cases and break it in others? We will examine these and other questions, along with how international law works in practice, through case studies covering topics ranging from global trade and investment to human rights and war.
5 units · Letter or Credit/No Credit
Law permeates global politics. The purpose of this course is to provide students with an understanding of how international law and politics interact. We will study both the political foundations of international law - how law is made, broken and enforced - as well as how law shapes international (and domestic) politics. We will ask questions such as: why do countries bother committing to international law at all? Why do countries comply with the law in some cases and break it in others? We will examine these and other questions, along with how international law works in practice, through case studies covering topics ranging from global trade and investment to human rights and war.
Offered in Spring 2027 at Stanford University.