How Do You Learn? Metacognition

This is a short video on how we learn, and how one can learn more effectively, which I think might be helpful. It is not long, so take a couple of minutes to check it out.

        

Air Strikes in Syria, and the Climate Summit

International law is everywhere in the news this week.

The U.S. began airstrikes against ISIS in Syria this week, which has led to questions about the legal authority for such strikes, and whether they are lawful under international law (some different views here, here, here, and here). The U.N. General Assembly is also getting under way, and President Obama spoke to the General Assembly today, making the legal and policy case for the strikes against ISIS.

There is also the climate change conference underway in New York this week (official site for the summit is here), in which the international community attempts to lay the foundation for a treaty to be agreed to in 2015 in Paris. The absence of India and China at the meeting has led to some pessimism. President Obama addressed the Summit earlier this week, below:

Scotland, Catalan, and Self-Determination

As we take up self-determination this week, how should we understand the Scottish referendum last week? (Here is a funny but quite informative video explaining the Scottish referendum to non-Brits). Were there international law issues at play?

The answers may come into stark relief if we compare the Scottish example (thinking through, for instance, what would have happened if the YES side had won), with that of Catalan in Spain, which is preparing to hold a referendum later this year. What are the differences? What are their significance from an international law perspective? What does the Quebec Secession Reference have to say about either case?

UPDATED: Meanwhile, in China a moderate human rights scholar and activist was just sentenced to life in prison for "seperatism", for advocating the right of self-determination for the Uighur people, and secession of the Xinjiang region in Western China.

Air Strikes in Syria and International Law

Returning to the issue of U.S. air strikes against ISIS in Syria, there have been some developments, and some scholarly debate on the issue since the last post.

Beginning with the debate, there is first Ryan Goodman of NYU on Just Security, followed by response there from Michael Lewis of Ohio Northern, and finally a response to both from Kevin Heller of LSE at Opinio Juris. Who do you think has the better argument?

Today, at a conference in Paris, the President of Iraq requested that the international community take action against ISIS in Syria in order to defend Iraq. Is there any legal significance to that? If so, why and what is the significance?

Scottish Referendum and International Law

As you will no doubt have seen in the news, Scotland is this week going to the polls to vote in a referendum on the question of independence. After over 300 years in the United Kingdom, the Scottish people may vote to secede and form an independent state. But what does international law have to say about this? What if the UK objected - would Scotland be free to secede then? What are the operative principles in play?

We will examine such questions in some detail in just a few weeks. But as this drama is unfolding this week, you may want to get a head-start on the issues! There is an "insta-symposium" beginning this week at Opinio Juris in which you can dive into the detailed legal issues.

Are Air Strikes Against ISIS in Syria Lawful?

Last night President Obama announced that the U.S. would commence air strikes against the non-state actor ISIS within the territory of Syria. It has already done so against ISIS (also known as ISIL) in Iraq. This has led to an explosion of debate (see, e.g., Opinio Juris, Just Security, and Lawfare) over whether President Obama requires Congressional approval for such strikes, or whether the Authorization to Use Military Force (AUMF), passed immediately after 9/11 and authorizing the use of force against Al Qaeda and other forces responsible for 9/11, is sufficient.

Less heard in the U.S., however, is any debate over whether such air strikes are lawful under international law. We will not get to the use of force for several more weeks - but what do you think? If you think them lawful, what would be the legal authority or justification for such strikes? If not lawful, why not?

U.S. Investigating Russian Treaty Violation

The question has been asked a few times in class, what happens when a treaty is violated? What are the sanctions? The answer varies according to the nature of the treaty and the parties involved, but one example is in the news today. The U.S. is currently investigating a Russian violation of a bilateral arms-control treaty. What will happen if it is determined that Russia violated the treaty?