The B.A. Major in International Law and Institutions will prepare students to:
- understand the origins of international law as well as the history and current relevance of international institutions
- identify the actors in international law-making, interpretation, and execution, including states, international organizations, NGOs, and civil society actors
- understand the role of international agreements by focusing on how and when they are negotiated, interpreted, implemented, and enforced
- explore the strengths and weaknesses of international law as a mechanism for managing international relations and addressing international and global challenges
- evaluate how states’ actions and social movements influence international law
- interpret how international law shapes civil society and influences social change
- understand the intersection between international law and the operation of international institutions in international affairs
At the core of this major is the relationship between international law and global governance through supranational institutions. Students in this major will study a variety of topics, including the efforts to regulate the conduct of war, develop human rights doctrines, respond to migration, define and protect the global commons, and regulate international investments, trade, and development. An in-depth understanding of international law and institutions will help students appreciate the dynamic nature of international relationships, which are adjusting as notions of state sovereignty evolve and as non-state actors play significant roles. Students will develop practical and intellectual skills to prepare them for careers in international fields. In particular, they will sharpen their analytical, critical thinking, and writing skills in relation to the study of international law; they will also develop the cultural and regional expertise that is the hallmark of graduates from the Department of International Studies.