Course Description

The course aims to introduce students to key sociological concepts, discuss the sociological dimension of international law and analyze various international legal issues from sociological perspective. The course will address the following topics:

(i) the sociological perspective and the sociological dimension of international law;

(ii) core sociological theories and international law - global and regional trade agreements in the WTO legal system;

(iii) collective memory and international law - the role of international tribunals in the construction of social memories, states' collective memories and international law;

(iv) diffusion of norms and international legal fragmentation - interpretive communities and the interactions between investment tribunals and human rights treaties;

(v) socialization, social identity and international law - international institutions, enforcement of human rights treaties by EU trade measures, and interpretation of international treaties;

(vi) cognitive sociology and international law - inter-group relations, discrimination and the implementation of international treaties;

(vii) the sociology of deviance and compliance with international law - international social control mechanisms, social labelling and additional social causes of international deviance (and the challenge of enhancing compliance with international law).

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