Introduction to Legal Systems

1. International Law
   1. Definition and Role
      1. Definition of International Law
         1. Body of rules established by treaty or custom
         2. Governs the relations between states and other international actors
      2. Role in Global Governance
         1. Facilitates international cooperation
         2. Provides frameworks for resolving disputes
         3. Promotes peace and security
   2. Sources of International Law
      1. Treaties and Conventions
         1. Definition and Importance
            1. Formal agreements between states
            2. Legally binding at the international level
         2. Types of Treaties
            1. Bilateral treaties
            2. Multilateral treaties
         3. Key Historical Treaties
            1. United Nations Charter
            2. Geneva Conventions
      2. Customary International Law
         1. Definition and Characteristics
            1. Practices followed by states out of a sense of legal obligation
         2. Examples and Case Studies
            1. Doctrine of diplomatic immunity
            2. Maritime practices
      3. General Principles of Law
         1. Definition and Relevance
            1. Fundamental principles recognized by civilized nations
         2. Application in International Legal Systems
            1. Usage in filling gaps where treaties and customs are absent
      4. Judicial Decisions and Scholarly Writings
         1. Role in Interpreting International Law
         2. Influence of International Court of Justice opinions
   3. International Legal Institutions
      1. International Court of Justice (ICJ)
         1. Jurisdiction and Function
            1. Settles legal disputes between states
            2. Advisory opinions on legal questions
         2. Noteworthy Cases
            1. Nicaragua v. United States
            2. Genocide Convention case
      2. International Criminal Court (ICC)
         1. Jurisdiction and Function
            1. Prosecutes individuals for crimes such as genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity
         2. Significant Trials and Developments
            1. Trials of heads of state
            2. Impact on international criminal justice
      3. Other International Tribunals
         1. World Trade Organization Dispute Settlement
         2. International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea
      4. United Nations System
         1. Role of the Security Council
         2. Contribution to peacekeeping and conflict resolution
   4. Principles of International Law
      1. Sovereign Equality of States
         1. Definition and Implications
         2. Balancing state sovereignty with international responsibility
      2. Non-Intervention
         1. Historical Context and Modern Interpretations
         2. Exceptions to the rule (e.g., humanitarian intervention)
      3. Prohibition of the Use of Force
         1. UN Charter Article 2(4)
         2. Self-defense and collective security exceptions
      4. International Human Rights
         1. Universal Declaration of Human Rights
         2. Mechanisms for enforcement and challenges
   5. Challenges and Criticisms
      1. Enforcement and Compliance Issues
         1. Lack of centralized enforcement mechanism
         2. Reliance on state cooperation
      2. Fragmentation of International Law
         1. Overlapping jurisdictions of legal bodies
         2. Inconsistent legal norms and standards
      3. Criticisms of Western Bias
         1. Advocacy for a more inclusive and diverse perspective
         2. Adjustments in response to globalization
      4. Impact of National Interests
         1. Tensions between international obligations and national sovereignty
         2. Political considerations in international lawmaking
   6. Developing Areas
      1. International Environmental Law
         1. Evolution and key treaties (e.g., Paris Agreement)
         2. Challenges in implementation and compliance
      2. International Trade Law
         1. Roles of WTO and trade agreements
         2. Emerging issues in global trade
      3. Cyber Law and Digital Jurisprudence
         1. Regulation of cyber activity and warfare
         2. Privacy, data protection, and international cooperation
      4. Law of Outer Space
         1. Treaties governing space activities
         2. Emerging debates on space exploration and exploitation