JUS5134 – International Law of Peace

Course content

Peace and Conflict studies traditionally tend to focus on the causes and dynamics of conflict. This is the only legal course in the world which seeks to explore the normative framework and substantive components of peace under international law. How does the international community create a Sustainable Peace? How can peace be emancipatory instead of oppressive in the face of growing authoritarianism, nativism, and populism?  Is only Negative Peace law?  How can Positive Peace be justiciable?

We begin with a review of the philosophical origins of the right to peace, followed by legal analysis of relevant international instruments, including the UN Charter, regional instruments, and human rights law. Special lectures address the substantive components of Peace: The prohibition on the Use of Force, the role of the UN Security Council, UN General Assembly, and ICJ, the evolution of third generation Human Rights, the principle of peaceful coexistence, the obligation to pursue peaceful dispute resolution, the link to Sustainable Development, Gender Equality, Non-Discrimination, Transitional Justice, Constitutional Law, and Protection of Refugees. Particular attention is paid to the role of civil society and non-state actors in both preventive and post bellum scenarios. 

For students enrolled in Rettsvitenskap (jus) (master – 5 år): Have you considered a specialization as part of your degree? The course is part of the profile Internasjonal rett og menneskerettigheter.

Learning outcome

See learning outcome for JUS5134

Admission to the course

You may register for this course if you have admission to Rettsvitenskap (jus) (master – 5 år), Theory and Practice of Human Rights (master's two years) and Peace and Conflict Studies (master's two years) at UiO or the faculty`s exchange programme. 

Have you met the formal prerequisites at another institution than the University of Oslo, and the results are not formally registered at UiO, you must apply for admission to courses at Master’s level (information in Norwegian only). Students with admission to Master’s degree programmes at other faculties than The Faculty of Law must also apply for admission. 

All students are required to meet the formal prerequisites. 

When your admission is in order you must register for courses in StudentWeb. 

Formal prerequisite knowledge

Students must fill one of these requirements:

• Passed 1st - 3rd year of the 5-years degree Master of Laws (Master i rettsvitenskap at UiO) (or exams that qualify for exemption for these) or
• Hold a 5-years Master’s degree in Laws (Master i rettsvitenskap at UiO) or equivalent.

Exemptions from the formal prerequisites will be given to students with admission to the faculty`s own exchange or master’s degree programmes. This rule does not apply to students with admission to other master’s degree programmes at the University of Oslo, unless otherwise agreed.

Students attending the following programmes are also exempt from the formal prerequisites:

• Theory and Practice of Human Rights (master's two years)
• Peace and Conflict Studies (master's two years)

Recommended previous knowledge

Prior knowledge of international law and/or human rights is helpful but not required.

Overlapping courses

• 10 credits overlap with HUMR5134 – The Right to Peace (continued).

Teaching

Mandatory requirement: (approved/not approved)

Oral participation in a People's Peace Tribunal. Students will be divided into groups presenting claims which they can research for example, reparations for refugees, ecological justice, victims of gender violence, reparation for the crime of aggression and/or violations of ICL/IHL, etc. The students will take turns in serving as judges for the different teams. 

Examination

Students are graded on the basis of a written memo. 

Mandatory requirements must be approved before one can sit for an exam.

Maximum length for the written memo is 4000 words. Front page, contents page (optional) and bibliography are not included. If footnotes are used in the text (at the bottom of each page), they are included in the 4000 word limit. 

Papers that exceed the 4000 word limit will be  rejected, and not sent to grading.

You must familiarize yourself with the rules that apply to exam support materials, and the use of sources and citations. If you violate these rules, you may be suspected of cheating or attempted cheating. You can read about what the university considers cheating, and the consequences of cheating here.

Examination support material

All available exam resources are allowed when answering this exam. Rules for source referencing are crucial for determining whether the use of resources is permitted.

Your exam paper must be an independent work. Exam candidates are not permitted to communicate with other persons about the exam question(s) or distribute draft answers or exam answers.

Language of examination

The examination text is given in English, and you submit your response in English.

Grading scale

Grades are awarded on a scale from A to F, where A is the best grade and F is a fail. Read more about the grading system.

This guide is used by examiners for grading this course.

Resit an examination

• Illness at exams / postponed exams
• Resitting an examination.
• There are special rules for resitting a passed examination in the master`s programme in Law.

More about examinations at UiO

• Use of sources and citations
• Special exam arrangements due to individual needs
• Withdrawal from an exam
• Illness at exams / postponed exams
• Explanation of grades and appeals
• Resitting an exam
• Cheating/attempted cheating

You will find further guides and resources at the web page on examinations at UiO.