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The course aims at:
a) acquainting students with basic institutes, concepts and branches of public international law (knowledge), b) making students understand the relationship between international and national law (knowledge), c) training students in reading treaties and case-law of international (quasi)-judicial bodies (skills) d) training students in legal argumentation (skills) The course is taught by means of weekly lectures which are organized in blocks of inter-related topics. The course focuses on general topics of PIL and is followed by the course Public International Law II which introduces specific areas of PIL. Last update: Šicnerová Barbora, Mgr. (02.09.2026)
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Students must attend and actively participate in at least 70% of the classes. Last update: Šicnerová Barbora, Mgr. (02.09.2026)
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The course covers primarily the following topics: 1) Block 1: Introduction to PIL a) Definition of PIL, Features of PIL, Relation to other legal and non-legal areas, History of PIL, Main theoretical and methodological approaches to PIL b) Rules of PIL – concept, typology c) Relation between PIL and national legal orders – theoretical concepts, forms of reception, concrete national examples (Czech Republic) 2) Block 2: Sources of PIL a) General overview of sources of PIL b) Customary rules in PIL – concept, typology, persistent objector c) Treaties in PIL – concept, typology, negotiation, validity, termination, reservations and interpretation d) Other sources of PIL – general principles of law, case-law, jurisprudence, unilateral legal acts of States and international organizations 3) Block 3: Legal Personality in PIL a) Legal personality in PIL in general – concept, theories, legal persons b) States in PIL – definition, typology, competences, immunities, succession c) International organizations – definition, typology, competences 4) Block 4: Secondary Rules of PIL a) Responsibility in PIL – elements, content, circumstances precluding wrongfulness b) Enforcement in PIL – retorsion, countermeasures, self-defence, UN collective security system c) Dispute settlement under PIL – diplomatic instruments, arbitration, international judicial bodies (incl. International Court of Justice) Last update: Šicnerová Barbora, Mgr. (02.09.2026)
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Required literature: Ian Brownlie, Principles of Public International Law, 7th Edition, Oxford University Press, 2008. Cecily Rose et al., Introduction to Public International Law, Cambridge University Press, 2022. Emily Crawford et al., Public International Law, Cambridge University Press, 2023. Cristina Verones, Sébastien Rosselet, The Public International Law Study Guide for Students: Exercises and Answers, Hart, 2013. Required legal regulations: (always in wording in force and effect as on the date of examination): Constitution of the Czech Republic (No. 1/1993 Coll.) Draft articles on the responsibility of international organizations (2011) Draft articles on Responsibility of States for Internationally Wrongful Acts (2001) Montevideo Convention on the Rights and Duties of States (1933) UN Charter (1945) Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties (1969) Other legal regulations (always in wording in force and effect as on the date of examination): ICJ, Reparation for Injuries Suffered in the Service of the United Nations, Advisory Opinion, 1949. ICJ, North Sea Continental Shelf (Federal Republic of Germany/Denmark+Netherlands), Judgment, 1969. ICJ, Nuclear Tests (Australia v. France), Judgment, 1974. ICJ, United States Diplomatic and Consular Staff in Tehran (United States of America v. Iran), Judgment, 1980. ICJ, Military and Paramilitary Activities in and against Nicaragua (Nicaragua v. United States of America), Judgment, 1986. ICJ, Gabčíkovo-Nagymaros (Slovakia v. Hungary), Judgment, 1997. Last update: Šicnerová Barbora, Mgr. (08.09.2026)
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Students will: • Familiarise themselves with basic concepts, characteristic features, historical development and theoretical approaches of public international law; • Understand the nature of the rules of international law, including their binding force, hierarchy and peremptory norms (jus cogens); • Explain theoretical conceptions of the relationship between international and domestic law and the practical operation of that relationship, particularly within the legal order of the Czech Republic; • Identify and apply the sources of international law, particularly international treaties, customary rules and general principles of law; • Demonstrate familiarity with the law of treaties, including treaty-making, reservations, validity, termination and interpretation; • Understand international legal personality and distinguish among subjects of international law, including States, international organisations, individuals and sui generis entities; • Define statehood in international law, including the criteria of statehood, recognition, jurisdiction and State succession; • Describe the nature, structure and functions of international organisations, particularly the United Nations and the principal regional organisations; • Analyse the international responsibility of States, including attribution of conduct, circumstances precluding wrongfulness and forms of reparation; • Understand enforcement mechanisms in international law and explain the nature of retorsion, countermeasures, self-defence and the UN collective security system; • Demonstrate familiarity with mechanisms for the peaceful settlement of disputes, including diplomatic and judicial means and the role of the International Court of Justice; • Apply the rules and principles of public international law to practical cases and factual situations; • Analyse questions of international law using relevant sources, case law and treaty provisions; • Distinguish legal argument from political considerations in international relations; • Communicate concepts of international law clearly in writing and orally, using correct legal terminology. Last update: Šicnerová Barbora, Mgr. (02.09.2026)
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