096926

SoSe 19: The Changing Nature of Peace and Security

Peggy Wittke

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Course description

The United Nations, founded in 1945, today has 193 Member States. Tasked with the maintenance of international peace and security, the Security Council of the United Nations plays a prominent role in the United Nations as system of collective security. It is the Security Council’s responsibility to react to international crises by either peaceful means (Chapter VI of the UN-Charter) or even forceful measures (Chapter VII of the UN-Charter), once it has determined a breach or threat to peace and security.

This class takes a closer look at Chapter VII and especially Article 39 of the UN-Charter. It asks if the content and meaning of “international peace and security” has changed over the years, especially in light of the growing influence of international human rights. Is peace just the absence of war or are there more elements to take into consideration? How does the Security Council define “international peace and security” and a breach or threat thereof? As the determination of the Security Council of a situation as breach or threat to peace and security leads to wide-ranging competences according to Chapter VII of the UN-Charter, the aforementioned question is of crucial importance. At the same time the questions arise: what if the Council does not act, f.e. because of the blockade by a vetoholding member; or: who controls the decisions of the Council?

The class will start with an introductory class on the United Nations and Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations. Participants are expected to choose from one of the following topics or make an own topic proposal, prepare a 4-6 page summary on the subject and present it to the class along with a handout as well as participate actively in the discussions. The class will be held in English. Successful participants will receive 5 ECTS-credits and a “Proof of Legal Language Skills in English” pursuant to § 8 para. 2 of the study regulations for the study of law with the first legal examination of 25 March 2015 – Fremdsprachenfachkompetenz. The final grade will be determined according to the summary paper (1/2) and the presentation including handout (1/2), additional points can be achieved through an active participation in the discussions.

Classes are held on Wednesdays, 16.00 – 18.00 h, Room 4405 (Bo 3), starting on 10 April 2019.

If you are interested in International Public Law and have a good command of the English language, please register with Campus Management. In addition, please send three choices of topics via Email until 7 April 2019 to Peggy Wittke (peg@zedat.fu-berlin.de).

Topics

The League of Nations – A Predictable Failure?
Apartheid as Threat to Peace: The Situation in South Africa in the 1970s
Iraq and the Kurds: Resolution 688 (1991) of the UN Security Council
The Humanitarian Tragedy in Somalia: Resolution 794 (1992) of the Security Council
The Genocide in Rwanda (1994)
The Debate over Accountability: The Massacre of Srebrenica (1995)
The Deadlocked Security Council I: The Case of Kosovo (1999)
Chapter VII and Attacks by Non-state Actors
Article 51 of the Charter of the United Nations and Preemptive Self-Defense
The Fall of Saddam Hussein: The US-Iraq War (2003) and Its Implications for International Public Law
The Crimean Crisis and the Response of the United Nations (2014)
The Impact of the Ebola Outbreak in West Africa on International Peace and Security
The Responsibility to Protect: An Emerging Norm?
The Deadlocked Security Council II: The Situation in Syria
The Security Council as World Legislator: The Debate over Resolutions 1373 (2001) and 1540 (2004)
The Security Council and Climate Change
Who is controlling the Security Council? The Competences of the International Court of Justice
Reform of the Security Council – A Never Ending Story?

Preliminary Schedule

Class takes place in Room 4405, Boltzmannstr. 3, 16 - 18h.

No.	Date	Session
1	10 April 2019	Introduction to the United Nations System Peggy Wittke
2	17 April 2019	Peace and Security I Peggy Wittke
3	24 April 2019	Peace and Security II Peggy Wittke
4	8 May 2019	The League of Nations – A Predictable Failure? Apartheid as Threat to Peace: The Situation in South Africa in the 1970s
5	15 May 2019	Iraq and the Kurds: Resolution 688 (1991) of the UN Security Council The Humanitarian Tragedy in Somalia: Resolution 794 (1992) of the Security Council
6	22 May 2019	The Genocide in Rwanda (1994) The Debate over Accountability: The Massacre of Srebrenica (1995)
7	29 May 2019	The Deadlocked Security Council I: The Case of Kosovo (1999) Chapter VII and Attacks by Non-state Actor
8	5 June 2019	Article 51 of the Charter of the United Nations and Preemptive Self-Defense The Fall of Saddam Hussein: The US-Iraq War (2003) and Its Implications for International Public Law
9	12 June 2019	The Crimean Crisis and the Response of the United Nations (2014) The Impact of the Ebola Outbreak in West Africa on International Peace and Security
10	19 June 2019	The Responsibility to Protect: An Emerging Norm? The Deadlocked Security Council II: The Situation in Syria
11	26 June 2019	The Security Council as World Legislator: The Debate over Resolutions 1373 (2001) and 1540 (2004) The Security Council and Climate Change
12	3 July 2019 10.00 – 17.00 h Senatssaal, Henry-Ford-Bau Garystr. 35	Special Session of the United Nations Security Council: The Responsibility to Protect and the Situation in Myanmar Visit the Special Session!
13	10 July 2019	Who is controlling the Security Council? The Competences of the International Court of Justice Reform of the Security Council – A Never Ending Story?

Course Type:

Practical language exercise / 2 hrs per week

Course Registration:

Please register via Campus Management, Module "Fremdsprachenfachkompetenz A or B" Schließen

13 Termine

Regelmäßige Termine der Lehrveranstaltung

Mi, 16:00 - 18:00 13 Termine

Mi, 10.04.2019 16:00 - 18:00

Dozenten:
Peggy Wittke