ECTS - University of Pisa
| Modules | Area | Type | Hours | Teacher(s) | |
| LAW OF INTERNATIONAL SPACES | IUS/13 | LEZIONI | 42 |
|
Il corso è svolto in lingua inglese. Si rinvia al programma indicato nella sezione in inglese
Science and technological developments have been over time one of the engines of transformation and evolution of international law, and, of the law of international spaces. Current increasing advances in scientific knowledge highlight pressing concerns and opportunities related to new and/or different utilizations of international spaces hitherto unimaginable: from the utilization of cyberspace to the not far possibility of exploring, and eventually exploiting, celestial bodies in the outer space.
The course ‘Law of International Spaces’ proposes an innovative reinterpretation of 'international spaces' under international law. This requires to make a distinction between two broad categories:
The research question on which this course leads students to reflect is the following: What are the implications that technological and scientific progress are having on the law of international spaces? How can peaceful, fair, and sustainable utilization of international spaces be ensured? To what extent are unilateral claims or preferential exploitation and use of such spaces legally confirmed or sound?
The main objective of this course is to investigate the current regulatory dynamics and evolutions which, under the pressure of technological and scientific developments, are influencing and/or changing the legal status and the regime of utilization of international spaces.
The student who successfully completes the course will be able to understand the legal status and the regime of utilization of international spaces, specifically those spaces whose increased different forms of utilization offered by scientific and technological developments gives them greater visibility within the international community.
The assessment criterion of knowledge is based on the oral exam and the students’ participation in classes.
The student who successfully completes the course will be able to quicky grasp the main ideas of the academic literature on the legal status of international spaces and to grasp the main principles of law of international spaces and how they influence each other when facing scientific and technological challenges and trends.
Students will have to read the reading material to understand the basic concepts and be able to answer the questions included in the Syllabus.
During the lectures, the active participation of the student will be considered as a sign of interest in the topics of the course
It is preferable that students have a basic understanding of international law
List of topics
Topic 1: Introduction. Conceptualizing international spaces within a contemporary perspective (6 hours; Reading material: E. Cirkovic, The Next Generation of International Law: Space, Ice, and the Cosmolegal Proposal, in German Law Journal, 2021, pp. 147-167; P.A. Berkman, President Eisenhower, the Antarctic Treaty, and the Origin of International Spaces, in Science Diplomacy: Antarctica, Science, and the Governance of International Spaces (Berkman, Lang, Walton, and Young eds.), 2011; 287-294; O.R. Young, Governing International Spaces: Antarctica and Beyond, in Science Diplomacy…, cit., pp. 17-27)
Topic 2: Principles of law of international spaces (6 hours. Reading material: I. Feichtner, Community Interest, in MPEIL, 2007; A. PROELß, Peaceful Purposes, in MPEIL, 2010; S. Besson, Sovereignty, in MPEIL, 2011; F. Wolfrum, Common Heritage of Mankind, in MPEIL, 2012; J. Brunnée, Common areas, common heritage, and common concern, in The Oxford Handbook of International Environmental Law (Bodansky, Brunée, and Hey eds.), Oxford, 2012, pp. 550-573; U. Beverlyin, Suistanable development, in MPEIL, 2013);
Topic 3: International maritime spaces (6 hours. Reading material: Selected chapters from T. Heider (ed.), New knowledge and changing circumstances in the law of the sea, 2020, Brill, pp. 1-15; pp. 29-39; pp. 124-153; 327-340; 429-445; UN thematic debate, Sustainable Development and High Seas Fisheries, here; International Seabed Authority, Strategic Plan for the Period 2019-2023, here);
Topic 4: Outer space (6 hours. Reading material: J. Wrench, Non-Appropriation, No Problem: The Outer Space Treaty Is Ready for Asteroid Mining, Case Western Reserve Journal of International Law, 2019, pp. 437-462; I. Feichtner, Mining for humanity in the deep sea and outer space: The role of small states and international law in the extraterritorial expansion of extraction, in Leiden Journal of International Law, 2019, pp. 255-274; C. Cinelli, K. Pogorzelska The Current International Legal Setting for the Protection of the Outer Space Environment: The Precautionary Principle Avant la Lettre, in Review of European Community & International Environmental Law, 2013, pp. 186-201);
Topic 5: Cyberspace (6 hours. Reading material: R. Buchan, Cyber-attacks: Unlawful Uses of Force or Prohibited Interventions?, in Journal of Conflict and Security Law, 2012, pp. 211-227; A. Zimmermann, International Law and «Cyber Space», in ESIL Reflections, 2014, here; N. Tsagourias, The legal status of cyberspace, in Research Handbook on International Law and Cyberspace (Tsagourias and Buchan eds.), Cheltenham, 2015, pp. 13-30; F. Delerue, Cyber Operations and International Law, Cambridge, 2020, pp. 353-376; UN thematic debate, New Programme of Action for Struggle against Threats to Cybersecurity, 2021, here)
Topic 6: Resources of ‘common concern’ (6 hours. Reading material: J. Brunnée, Common areas, common heritage, and common concern, cit.; I. Feichtner, Community Interest, C. Kreuter-Kirchhof, Atmosphere, International Protection, in MPEIL, 2011; F. Soltau, Common concern of humankind, in The Oxford Handbook of International Law of Climate Change (Gray, Tarasofsky and Carlarne eds.), OUP, Oxford, 2016, Part III, Chapter X; International Law Commission, Protection of atmosphere, 2021, here).
Topic 7: Current trends and challenges for ensuring peaceful and sustainable utilizations of international spaces (6 hours. Teaching activities: Case studies and/or role-playing game for attending-students. Reading material: v. Topics supra).
For attending-students, parts of the Reading material will be replaced by notes taken in class.
Reading material will be uploaded on the e-learning platform of the Department of Political Sciences (access is possible with Alice Credentials and with a dedicated password that will be given to students attending the course).
Reading Material:
• P.A. Berkman, President Eisenhower, the Antarctic Treaty, and the Origin of International Spaces, in Science Diplomacy: Antarctica, Science, and the Governance of International Spaces (Berkman, Lang, Walton, and Young eds.), 2011; 287-294;
• S. Besson, Sovereignty, in MPEIL, 2011;
• U. Beverlyin, Suistanable development, in MPEIL, 2013;
• J. Brunnée, Common areas, common heritage, and common concern, in The Oxford Handbook of International Environmental Law (Bodansky, Brunée, and Hey eds.), Oxford, 2012, pp. 550-573;
• R. Buchan, Cyber-attacks:Unlawful Uses of Force or Prohibited Interventions?, in Journal of Conflict and Security Law, 2012, pp. 211-227;
• C. Cinelli, K. Pogorzelska The Current International Legal Setting for the Protection of the Outer Space Environment: The Precautionary Principle Avant la Lettre, in Review of European Community & International Environmental Law, 2013, pp. 186-201;
• E. Cirkovic, The Next Generation of International Law: Space, Ice, and the Cosmolegal Proposal, in German Law Journal, 2021, pp. 147-167;
• F. Delerue, Cyber Operations and International Law, Cambridge, 2020, pp. 353-376;
• I. Feichtner, Community Interest, in MPEIL, 2007;
• I. Feichtner, Mining for humanity in the deep sea and outer space: The role of small states and international law in the extraterritorial expansion of extraction, in Leiden Journal of International Law, 2019, pp. 255-274;
• T. Heider (ed.), New knowledge and changing circumstances in the law of the sea, 2020, Brill, pp. 1-15; pp. 29-39; pp. 124-153; 327-340; 429-445;
• Kreuter-Kirchhof, Atmosphere, International Protection, in MPEIL, 2011;
• A. PROELß, Peaceful Purposes, in MPEIL, 2010;
• F. Soltau, Common concern of humankind, in The Oxford Handbook of International Law of Climate Change (Gray, Tarasofsky and Carlarne eds.), OUP, Oxford, 2016, Part III, Chapter X;
• N. Tsagourias, The legal status of cyberspace, in Research Handbook on International Law and Cyberspace (Tsagourias and Buchan eds.), Cheltenham, 2015, pp. 13-30;
• F. Wolfrum, Common Heritage of Mankind, in MPEIL, 2012;
• J. Wrench, Non-Appropriation, No Problem: The Outer Space Treaty Is Ready for Asteroid Mining, Case Western Reserve Journal of International Law, vol. 51, 2019, pp. 437-462;
• O.R. Young, Governing International Spaces: Antarctica and Beyond, in Science Diplomacy…, cit., pp. 17-27;
• A. Zimmermann, International Law and «Cyber Space», in ESIL Reflections, 2014, here.
Documents:
• UN thematic debate, Sustainable Development and High Seas Fisheries, here;
• International Seabed Authority, Strategic Plan for the Period 2019-2023, here
• UN thematic debate, New Programme of Action for Struggle against Threats to Cybersecurity, 2021, here
• International Law Commission, Protection of atmosphere, 2021, here
Oral exam
