The course on "International Law" is divided in two parts (a general part and a special part).

The first part, of a general character ad covering about 90% of the class hours, deals with the following topics of public international law:
– definition, origin and features of international law, focusing on the peculiar aspects of the international legal system;
– how States come to existence and their independence and sovereignty as subjects of international law, as well as the other true or alleged subjects of international law;
– formation of international rules and relationships between the different legal sources;
– general international law, custom, general principles of law, jus cogens and erga omnes obligations, as well as the codification of international law;
– international agreements and the law of the treaties as codified in the Vienna Convention of 1969, with particular regard to ratification, interpretation, reservations, invalidity and termination, as well as the succession of States in treaties; international organizations and their acts;
– the United Nations Charter, the bodies and the acts of the UN; the use of force, the collective security system and peace-keeping and peace-enforcement operations;
– international wrongful acts and responsibility for breaches of international obligations;
– peaceful settlement of disputes and prevention of international disputes;
– implementation of international law within the Italian legal systems.

The second part of the course, concerning a specialized matter and covering about 10% of the class hours, is devoted to international trade law and to the World Trade Organization, dealing in particular with the following topics:
– institutions and rules of international trade from GATT to WTO; trade negotiation rounds and the development of international rules governing trade in goods and services;
– principle of non-discrimination, most favoured nation clause and national treatment clause;
– tariffs and non-tariff barriers, such as quantitative restrictions, subsidies and dumping;
– exceptions and exemptions, free trade areas, safeguard measures, and measures for less developed countries;
– settlement of disputes within the WTO; panels and Appellate Body.

Seminars: During the course, sometimes there might be seminars on current issues, also in cooperation with professors of other courses and inviting scholar and experts from other universities or institutions.

To receive advice on an International Law textbook in English, please contact Professor Coccia at m.coccia@unitus.it.

The recommended textbook in Italian is:
AA.VV. (S.M. CARBONE, R. LUZZATTO, A. SANTA MARIA, etc.), Istituzioni di diritto internazionale, Sixth edition, G. Giappichelli Editore (it can be purchased on-line with free delivery on the Giappichelli website, www.giappichelli.it, or on other platforms), Turin, 2021.
Only the following chapters (and pages) must be studied:
• chapters I-IV (pp. 1-179);
• chapters VI-VII (pp. 239-381);
• second section of chapter IX (pp. 429-442);
• chapter XIII (pp. 579-628)

It is also advisable to make reference, both during the lessons and when studying for the exam, to the legal texts indicate hereinafter in the "Bibliography" section

For those who have the previous edition of the same textbook (fifth edition, 2016), the corresponding chapters (and pages) to be studied are the following ones:
• chapters I-IV (pp. 1-179);
• chapters VI-VIII (pp. 229-371);
• second section of chapter IX (pp. 418-431);
• chapter XIII (pp. 555-606).