public international law essay

Free International Law Essay Examples & Topics

If you’re looking for international law essay examples or writing ideas, you’re in the right place. Our team has worked out a list of international law topics for an essay that can help you write your paper. We’ve explored why it’s worth your time to study it as well. Thus, first of all, we invite you to understand what international law is.

International law (same as public international law) is the set of legal rules, standards, principles, and norms between sovereign states and other international legal actors. These rules are recognized by most states and can be applied to govern the relationships between them.

So, why study it?

The primary purpose international law is maintaining peace and justice. That’s when the importance of international law becomes clear. Without it, countries would not be able to solve issues in an organized manner.

Another critical role of international law is promoting business-related and industrial development worldwide. International law and its principles view economic growth as a global public responsibility. Trading, negotiating, producing, and investing worldwide is possible due to standard norms and shared regulations.

11 International Law Essay Topics

To be able to write an exceptional international law essay, you need an excellent paper idea. Here you will get some amazing topics ! You can use these international law essay ideas for composing your paper or read them for inspiration.

Use the following ideas to practice or complete your assignment:

• The evolution of antitrust laws in the UK.
• Comparison of gun control laws in the US and Sweden.
• Child labor in the global economy and laws against it.
• Rules of private international law.
• Conflicts of regulations in public international laws.
• Why do nations have to obey modern international law?
• New international commercial court drafting of laws.
• Reasons why the former first lady of Ivory Coast is tried for crimes against humanity.
• Palestinian territory occupied: possible ways to resolve the conflict.
• “Access the Sea” case in Bolivia and Chile.
• Influence of the United Nations on modern international law.

7 International Law Essay Questions

In this paragraph, we’ve combined a list of international law essay questions. They are useful for numerous reasons, some of which we’ve already explained above. The key aspect is that they can help you practice writing international public law essays.

Here are our seven international law assignment topics:

• List the theories that explain the relationships between domestic and international law.

In this essay, a student is invited to explore the relationships between domestic and international laws. Indeed, these relationships are genuinely complex. While listing theories, try to answer the question about the position of domestic law within the international one.

• Explain what is the role of international law in the modern world?

It’s a great essay topic that gives a lot of space for students to develop ideas. Indeed, the role of international law in the modern world is hard to overestimate.

• Analyze legal systems of Asia and Africa.

An analysis of these two legal systems can be a fascinating endeavor. Additionally, explain what the difference between “laws” and “legal systems” is.

• Illustrate legal justifications for the use of force?

Here, we urge students to explain the legal thinking behind the implementation of force. Illustrate when and how legal entities can apply the laws on the use of power.

• What do you think about Kosovo as a state?

It’s a pretty personal question. However, be mindful of basing your response on the laws and principles of international law. A great topic that can capture the reader’s attention if delivered correctly.

• Show the importance of recognition within the international legal system.

Here you should demonstrate what importance acknowledgment plays in international law. Additionally, enumerate the conditions nations should fulfill to be recognized.

• Discuss the extent to which international law protects the rights of minorities?

When answering this essay question, keep in mind how international law defines minorities and what it does to protect these groups. Explain who can claim minority rights.

11 International Law Research Paper Topics

Below, we’ve collected interesting and easy international law topics for research papers. Check them out!

• The role of international law in solving global environmental issues.
• How to balance international obligations regarding human rights and state sovereignty.
• The international criminal court’s effectiveness and challenges.
• How international trade law impacts global economic relations.
• Protecting civilians in war zones according to international humanitarian law.
• How international refugee law evolved: challenges and responses.
• The role of international law in combating transnational organized crime.
• Ways of balancing innovation and access to knowledge according to international intellectual property law.
• Historical and current conflicts related to territorial disputes.
• Indigenous peoples and their rights under international law.
• Effectiveness and limitations of the United Nations peacekeeping operations.

15 Public International Law Assignment Topics

This collection of public international law essay topics delves into diverse areas of the subject. Check them out below:

• Liability regarding state responsibility for environmental damage.
• How international organizations promote global health and well-being.
• What legal challenges does international law face in the digital age?
• Ways of balancing preservation and security in protecting cultural heritage during armed conflicts.
• The rights and obligations of states during the refugee crisis.
• International legal approaches and cooperation in combating transnational terrorism.
• International trade law and dispute resolution in global commerce.
• The right to self-determination in indigenous peoples in the context of international legal frameworks.
• State obligations in mitigating climate change.
• Analysis of the responsibility to protect (r2p) and its implementation challenges.
• Violations of international humanitarian law in non-state armed groups.
• The use of force in international law during humanitarian interventions.
• Corporate accountability for violations of human rights: what are the legal avenues for redress?
• International criminal law and accountability for war crimes.
• Ways of balancing maritime interests and environmental conservation.

Thank you so much for reading our article. We hope it can help you in your next international law assignment. Now you can check the free essays below to see how other students handled the task.

90 Best Essay Examples on International Law

Obama had authority to order operation geronimo, international law is not really law.

• Words: 2045

EU’s Single Market: Article 36 TFEU

• Words: 3000

Global Justice in Modern World

• Words: 2073

Choice of Law in Contract Under Rome Convention

• Words: 11144

Temple of Preah Vihear: Cambodia vs Thailand

• Words: 1001

The Flags of Convenience’ System

• Words: 1115

Costa Rica v. Nicaragua Maritime Delimitation

• Words: 1163

Genocide Factors in Rwanda and Cambodia

• Words: 2481

Prescriptive Jurisdiction and Enforcement Jurisdiction in International Law

Legal standard of genocide: the enduring problem, the vienna convention on the law of treaties, legality of operation neptune spear (geronimo).

• Words: 1107

The Discussion of the Geneva Convention

United states supreme court justices, the main sources of international humanitarian law, the foxtrot marines boarding in the territorial sea, operation geronimo’s international liability, the international covenant on social and cultural rights: ratification by cyprus.

• Words: 2322

US Constitution and International Law & Policy

Aspects of the u.n. charter and the us constitution, discussion thread: international court, estonia’s membership in the un security council.

• Words: 1183

The European Union Infringement Procedure

• Words: 1472

Being Outside International Criminal Court Jurisdiction

The russo-ukrainian war’s impact on the world.

• Words: 1497

The Smart Border Declaration by the USA and Canada

International law: definition and uses.

• Words: 1058

The European Group of Legal Systems

• Words: 1413

Aspects of Talent Visas

Article 102 of the treaty of the functioning of the european union: abuse of dominance.

• Words: 1997

Conceptualizing Sovereignty Transformations

• Words: 1528

Reaction Paper about Treaty Bodies of Human Rights 2020

Transnational crime and international policing.

• Words: 1944

The Paris Club in the International Law Context

• Words: 1654

How Powerful Is the European Parliament in the EU Decision Making Process?

• Words: 2750

International Law, Security, and Global Peace

• Words: 2418

The Concept of Transnational Public Policy

• Words: 5620

Australia’s Federal System Is in Need of Reform

• Words: 1574

The Concept of Jurisdiction in International Law

Human trafficking: enforcing laws worldwide.

• Words: 1110

International Law: Extradition of Terrorists

Time for revision and reinterpretation.

• Words: 2548

Recognition in International Affairs

• Words: 1215

Human Rights and Laws on the International Level

Nuclear weapons resolutions and international law.

• Words: 1158

International Law and Its Adoption by Nation States

Vienna convention on law of treaties, international law: war crimes and crimes against humanity.

• Words: 4971

Jurisdiction and Immunities from Jurisdiction

International court punishing rape in armed conflict.

• Words: 4570

Bribery and Corruption in International Arbitration

• Words: 5014

Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe

• Words: 1089

Resettlement Support Center Africa in the US

Effects of the uk exit from the union.

• Words: 2562

Marxism and International Law

• Words: 1395

Transforming the Existing International Humanitarian Law

• Words: 3067

Oil-For-Food Program: International Law Issues

• Words: 1973

Terrorism, Human Trafficking, and International Response

• Words: 1201

International Judicial Review and Culture

International law in the 20th century history.

• Words: 1172

Genocide in the “Ghost of Rwanda” Documentary

• Words: 1156

Global Commons and International Environmental Policies

Trademark laws between the us and china.

• Words: 1384

Identifying the Concepts of the International Law

Human life regulation by united nations documents, syrians’ protection by international community.

• Words: 1424

International Criminal Justice and Atrocity

• Words: 4141

Transnational Organized Crime and Its Factors

Service of the united nations and reparations.

• Words: 3236

EU Electromagnetic Compatibility Directive

• Words: 2224

Assassination: Moral, Legal, Political and Practical Views

• Words: 2570

Legitimacy of International Criminal Law

• Words: 1119

Human Rights and Legal Framework in Poor Countries

• Words: 1265

Maritime Conflict: Offshore Political Geography

Us opposition to international law, international law: the nature of power and legitimacy, public international law: norms and sources, international law and its regulations, politics: the gulf cooperation council trade agreements, the free movement of persons under the european union law.

• Words: 1438

Principle of International Law

• Words: 3321

Law in the International System and Its Aspects

• Words: 1912

International Relations Issues

The principle of non-intervention in contemporary international law.

• Words: 1484

International Law and Vienna Conventions

• Words: 1506

The right of self-determination in International law

• Words: 4273

International Legal Norms

• Words: 2227

The Efficacy, Nature and Debates of the Modern International Law

Highs and lows of the geneva convention.

• Words: 2135

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International Law Guide

• International Courts and Tribunals
• International Organizations
• Private International Law
• Selected Topics in Public International Law

See also...

Foreign Law Guide

General Guides and Resources for Public International Law

• GlobaLex Research guides to international law (by subject) and foreign law (by jurisdiction) from NYU's Hauser Global Law School Program.

• ASIL Research Guide to Public International Law An up-to-date guide to treaty and other public international law research with an emphasis on online resources. From the American Society of International Law.

Criminal Law

• ASIL Research Guide to International Criminal Law
• Research Guides to the International Criminal Courts for the Former Yugoslavia, Rwanda and Sierra Leone From GlobaLex.
• Comparative Criminal Procedure: A Selected Bibliography From GlobaLex.
• International Criminal Court Legal Tools Provides access to documents important to international criminal law, including treaties, judgments and decisions, summaries of domestic criminal justice systems in many countries including relevant statutes or codes, and commentary on international criminal law and other aspects of international law.

Environmental Law

• ECOLEX: A Gateway to Environmental Law
• United Nations Environment Programme
• ASIL Research Guide to International Environmental Law
• A Basic Guide to International Environmental Legal Research From GlobaLex.

Human Rights and Humanitarian Law

• UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)
• OHCHR Jurisprudence Database Contains recommendations and findings from the various UN human rights committees that consider complaints from individuals.
• Refworld UNHCR's comprehensive information source on refugee status includes treaties, legislation and court decisions, as well as information organized by country and topic.
• European Court of Human Rights Pending cases, judgments, basic texts and a complete index to all ECHR judgments.
• Bayefsky.com: The United Nations Human Rights Treaties
• ICRC's Customary International Humanitarian Law Database A free online version of their two-volume publication.
• University of Minnesota Human Rights Library
• Human Rights Library: Collections on the Inter-American Court of Human Rights and Inter-American Commission on Human Rights From the University of Minnesota.
• ESCR-Net Caselaw Database Database of domestic, international, and quasi-judicial cases and decisions on economic, social and cultural rights.
• U.S. Department of State - Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor
• Project Diana: An Online Human Rights Case Archive From Yale Law School.
• ASIL Research Guide to International Human Rights
• ASIL Research Guide to International Humanitarian Law
• International Human Rights Research Guide From GlobaLex.
• ICJ E-bulletin on Counter-Terrorism and Human Rights International Commission of Jurist's free monthly publication of legal developments in the fields of counter-terrorism and human rights.

Intellectual Property

• WIPO: World Intellectual Property Organization
• WIPO Lex Collection of intellectual property legislation (in English) from WIPO member countries.
• AIPPI - International Association for the Protection of Intellectual Property An international NGO devoted to the "the development and improvement of intellectual property." The Questions/Committees section contains country-by-country reports on specific intellectual property law topics.
• European Patent Office
• U.S. Patent & Trademark Office General information, forms, and a free searchable patent and trademark database.
• U.S. Copyright Office Copyright basics, law, forms, and other materials available through the Library of Congress, the entity responsible for copyrights.
• ASIL Research Guide to International Intellectual Property Law
• IP Precedents Database Database of English translations of precedential domestic court decisions on IP topics; from the Research Center for the Legal System of Intellectual Property.

Law of the Sea

• United Nations: Oceans and Law of the Sea
• International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea
• International Seabed Authority
• UVA Center for Oceans Law & Policy
• ASIL Research Guide to Law of the Sea

Trade, Investment or Economic Law

• GATT Documents Online From the WTO.
• GATT Digital Library From Stanford University.
• WorldTradeLaw.net
• International Trade Database: Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods From Pace University.
• Trans-Lex.org Research platform for transnational commercial law from the Center for Transnational Law, Cologne University, Germany.
• SICE - Foreign Trade Information System From the Organization of American States.
• United States International Trade Commission
• United States Trade Representative
• Harmonized Tariff Schedule

• ASIL Research Guide to International Economic Law
• ASIL Research Guide to International Commercial Arbitration
• Research Guide on the Harmonization of International Commercial Law From GlobaLex.

Women's Rights

• Women's Human Rights Resources From the University of Toronto.
• Women's Human Rights Documents From the University of Minnesota.
• Women's Rights Links From the University of Minnesota.
• Last Updated: Jul 12, 2023 10:02 AM
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The Role of Law in International Politics: Essays in International Relations and International Law

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This book contains original essays by eighteen of the world's leading scholars and practitioners of international relations and international law. Together they address the highly topical question of the role that international law plays in international politics at the turn of the century. Both theoretical and political in its scope, it examines the character of international rules and norms, the way in which they develop, and how they affect political decision-making in a variety of contexts including international peace and security, international economic relations, international human rights, international development, and the environment.

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• Series Editors’ Preface
• Table of Contents
• List of Abbreviations

1 Introduction

• 2.1 Natural Law
• 2.2 Public Policy: Logical or Legal Necessity
• 2.3 General Principles of Law
• 2.4 Consent
• 3.1 Drafting the VCLT
• 3.2 Definition of Jus Cogens
• 4.1 Recent ILC Consideration of the Topic of Jus Cogens
• 4.2 The First Report
• 4.3 The Second Report
• 4.4 The Third Report
• a The question of regional jus cogens
• b Whether to include an illustrative list of jus cogens norms
• 5.1 Treaty Practice, Votes, and Official Statements in International Organizations
• a Jurisprudence of international courts and tribunals
• b Jurisprudence of regional courts and tribunals
• 5.3 National Legislation and Jurisprudence
• 5.4 Other Candidates Considered
• 6 Jus Cogens in Recent Legal Scholarship
• 7.1 The Law of Treaties
• a Issues of hierarchy: Resolving priorities between conflicting norms
• 7.3 Declaration of Fundamental Values
• 7.4 Concluding Remarks

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore magna aliquam erat volutpat.

Go to full text on:

• United Nations

Treaty Establishing the European Community (as amended by other Treaties) (European Union) [2006] OJ 321 E/37 (Date signed: 25th March 1957)

• External Link

From: Jus Cogens

Dinah shelton.

This introductory chapter provides an overview of the doctrine of peremptory norms (jus cogens). Publicists have long sought to develop a theory that would serve to constrain the claimed unlimited State discretion, in the exercise of sovereignty, to accept or reject an international treaty norm or developing customary international law. The doctrine of peremptory norms (jus cogens) is the primary theory developed in this effort. Notably, however, the norms most often cited as jus cogens have been universally accepted as customary international law or are contained in treaties adhered to by all or nearly all States. Breach of any such norm is a violation of international law; calling the norm jus cogens seems to add little—unless the consequences of violating such norms are enhanced or differ in other ways from breaches of ‘normal’ international law. The only references to peremptory norms in positive law are found in the Vienna conventions on the law of treaties.

• [66.249.64.20|185.80.150.64]
• 185.80.150.64

Faculty of Humanities

Master's in political, legal, and economic philosophy.

Citizens of modern societies are faced with a vast variety of questions concerning the relationship between politics, economics, morality, and law. The Master's program in Political, Legal, and Economic Philosophy (PLEP) of the philosophical department at the University of Bern aims to provide a context in which students from different countries can address these questions systematically.

This interdisciplinary degree is designed to allow students to study the ethical dimensions of public policy, corporate and non-governmental action in fields as diverse as health policy, employment relations, the environment, and international relations. It aims at providing a structured introduction to appropriate methods of philosophy to ethical reasoning, policy-making, and implementation.

The Master of Arts in Political, Legal, and Economic Philosophy is meant to be of interest to students from a variety of backgrounds, including Philosophy, Social Sciences, Law and Economics. The students will pursue their own research project and will be supervised individually during the whole time of their PLEP studies.

Legal basis

• Studienplan Philosophie vom 19.12.2022 mit Änderungen (Stand am 01.08.2023) (PDF, 238KB)
• Anhang zum Studienplan für Philosophie 19.12.2022 (PDF, 313KB)
• Reglement über das Studium und die Leistungskontrollen an der Philosophisch-historischen Fakultät der Universität Bern (RSL 05) vom 27.10.2005 mit Änderungen (PDF, 284KB)
• Regulations on Studies and Performance Assessments at the Faculty of Humanities (RSL Phil.-hist. 21) as of 15 March 2021 (the German original is the legally binding version) (PDF, 402KB)

Details of program

Scheme of program, scientific board, requirements, application and admission, after your master's.

The Master's in Political, Legal, and Economic Philosophy (PLEP) is a Philosophy Master's degree that emphasizes philosophical studies and introduces interdisciplinary research at the interplay between Philosophy, Political Science, Economics, and Law. It is a Mono-Master Program (120 ECTS credit points) available as a two-year, full-time course of study. Students can enter the program each semester, in spring as well as in autumn.

The PLEP Master's program offers an interdisciplinary analysis of practical political questions and problems of the social world. It allows students to engage in intensive debate on normative dimensions of state action, non-state action, and economic action. You can expect small classes, with students from around the world and great supervision that will help you to develop, broaden and practice analytical capacities, learn how to argue, identify relevant questions, and acquire a good knowledge of the main topics, specific methods and core ideas of philosophy, law, economics, and politics. The PLEP aims to prepare students for both jobs in the practical fields of government, non-governmental organizations, etc. as well as academic careers.

The PLEP program organizes a number of specialized events. Our PLEP Talk series invites an esteemed professor from abroad each semester for a lecture. Our PLEP Podium series brings philosophy to the public, inviting both academic and political speakers to discuss current issues. We also organize summer schools together with the University of Bochum in Germany and the University of Graz in Austria, as well as compact courses, which are conducted in Bern by highly regarded professors from abroad.

Semester Fees for the Program : 805 CHF per semester (Swiss Students), 1005 CHF per semester (Students without Swiss Residency)

Students have a right to course guidance on a regular basis, ensured by the PLEP Study Advisor and conducted by faculty members.

Please visit our PLEP Community Website for more details on special events, specific study information, and more.

The PLEP program consists of the following two parts.

a) Coursework b) Master's thesis

PLEP students are encouraged to design their own course of study, with some specific structural requirements. Special opportunities to lead tutorials, participate in summer schools with other universities, and more are possible as part of the freely chosen courses in philosophy. Please see below for all the specific requirements of the PLEP program:

3 Seminars in Philosophy (8 credit points each)

Colloquium “Methods of Practical Philosophy” (4 credit points)

Colloquium “Master's Thesis” (4 credit points)

1 Compact Course from the philosophy department (4 credit points)

1 Project on a philosophical topic (paper dealing with a freely chosen topic in consultation with the supervisor, ca. 8000 words, may contain preliminary work for the Master's thesis) (6 credit points)

Freely chosen courses or achievements in Philosophy on the Master's level for a total of 18 credit points, including: Seminars (8 credit points each), Mini-Seminars (4 credit points each) Colloquia (4 credit points each), Compact Courses (4 credit points each), Tutorials (6 credit points each), Group Projects (4 credit points each), Summer Schools (4 or 7 credit points each)

Courses in Economics, Political Science, and Law on the Master's level for a total of 30 credit points.

Master's thesis (30 credit points)

Master's Thesis

The Master's thesis (ca. 25000 words, excluding bibliography, 30 credit points) is a more comprehensive treatment of a specific topic from the areas of political philosophy, philosophy of economics, philosophy of law, or of the ethics of publics affairs. It has to be written (and finished) during the last term and is supervised individually. The topic can be freely chosen in consultation with the supervisor. The Master's thesis has to be presented and discussed in the mandatory Master's Thesis Colloquium. It can be written in German or English.

Example Curriculum

[ ] = Credit Points (ECTS), L = Lecture, S = Seminar, MS = Mini-Seminar, C = Colloquium, CC = Compact Course, MA = Master's Thesis, P = Project

Prof. Samantha Besson

Professor of Public International Law and European Law at the University of Fribourg

"The main focus of my research interest lies in European and international law in combination with legal and political philosophy, with special emphasis on human rights theory and democratic theory. In 2010, I edited, together with John Tasioulas, a large collection of essays on The Philosophy of International Law (Oxford University Press: Oxford 2010). My chapter in that collection pertained to the sources of international law and international legal positivism, a topic that I keep working on these days. My main project currently is a monograph on a legal theory of human rights which I hope to complete while at the Wissenschaftskolleg zu Berlin in 2011-2012."

Prof. Francis Cheneval

Professor for Political Philosophy at the University of Zurich

"Within the field of political philosophy my main research interests are normative problems of European and multilateral integration, property rights, global justice and history of political thought. I’ve studied philosophy, political science, and corporate finance at the universities of Fribourg, Georgetown, and Zurich and have been lecturer and professor in Paris (École pratique des hautes études), Bogotá (Universidad de los Andes), Bruxelles (Université Libre de Bruxelles) and at several Swiss universities. Next to my academic work, I served as rapporteur for property rights for the Commission on Legal Empowerment of the Poor at UNDP, New York. Currently I am president of the Swiss Philosophical Society and a member of the Editing Committee International Development Policy Series and the Editorial Board of the „Swiss Human Rights Book“ series. On publications I’d like to mention my latest monograph The Government of the Peoples: On the Idea and Principles of Multilateral Democracy which was published in 2011 and is one of the outcomes of my last years of work. At present, I am professor at the University of Zurich and work on research projects on democracy, citizenship, human rights and migration.“

Prof. Stefan Gosepath

Professor for Practical Philosophy, Freie Universität Berlin

"I specialize in normative political theory and practical philosophy and have done research on theories of rationality, action theory as well as democracy and human rights. My main focus of interest, though, in recent years has been with questions of local, global and ‚applied‘ justice. As a principle investigator in the Cluster of Excellence “The Formation of Normative Orders” at Frankfurt University and director of the Centre for Advanced Studies “Justitia Amplificata – Rethinking Justice: Applied and Global” I am currently working on different issues concerning the topic of normativity in a non-ideal world. The first and most comprehensive focus of this project is on formulating global norms of justice. A second focus is constituted by fundamental methodological questions concerning the relation between morality and politics, in particular concerning the application of normative theories to nonideal conditions. And, finally, a third focus lies on the analysis of normativity in general, specifically of normativity in the moral and political domain.“

Prof. David Miller

Professor of Political Theory, University of Oxford, Nuffield College

"I have wide interests in the field of political theory. Although in the past I have done some work in the history of political thought, my research is now focused on issues in contemporary political theory and philosophy. These include: theories of justice and equality; democratic theory; the concepts of nationality and citizenship; multiculturalism and immigration; and global justice. My book National Responsibility and Global Justice was published in November 2007, and I am continuing to work on questions that arise from that book, in particular the relationship between social justice and global justice, and the question of how the boundaries of distributive justice are set.  I am also working on the question of territorial rights, and how nations can acquire such rights.  A further related interest is in the idea of collective responsibility, and in particular the allocation of responsibility in situations where there are multiple agents each capable of remedying some harm. I intend in the future to do further work on social justice in multicultural societies, and to continue to engage critically with cosmopolitan conceptions of global justice and governance."

Prof. Fabienne Peter

Senior Tutor for Philosophy, Politics and Economics, University of Warwick

"I specialize in political philosophy and in issues at the intersection of economics and philosophy. My primary research interest at the moment is political legitimacy. Other main research interests are democracy, justice, and practical reason. I have also written on public health ethics, focusing on the relationship between social justice and health inequalities."

Semester dates

• Current dates of the academic year and lecture periods of all degree courses incl. semester breaks and vacation

New students

• Application for admission to the Master's in Political, Legal, and Economic Philosophy
• Request for change of study programs

Current students

• Renewal of semester registration for the forthcoming semester
• Request for leave of absence
• Request for removal from Student Registry for one of the following reasons: completion of studies, interruption of studies or dropping out of university
• Request for transfer from master's degree course to doctorate
• Request for extension of period of study
• Dean's Office information for MA's thesis submission and Diploma

Individual academic requirements

The following academic qualifications are required for admission to the specialized master’s degree program in Political, Legal, and Economic Philosophy PLEP (mono):

Bachelor's degree from a recognized university with:

As regards a) and e), if no evidence is provided of 60 ECTS credits in the branches of studies Political Sciences, Business Administration / Management and Economics or Law, suitable courses at bachelor’s level relating to the branches of studies of Political Sciences, Business Administration and Economics or Law to the value of 15 ECTS credits must be completed as admission requirements, which must be fulfilled in order to complete the master's degree program. The ECTS credits will be listed separately in the diploma supplement as extracurricular attainments.

As regards b), c), and d) and e), if no evidence is provided of 60 ECTS credits in the branch of studies Philosophy, the following four introductory courses will need to be completed as admission requirements, which must be fulfilled during the first two semesters of study on an extra-curricular basis:

The bachelor's degree may not be more than ten years old. Exceptions are possible where justified.

Language requirements

The courses are conducted in English. Additional attainments (introductory courses etc.) are sometimes conducted in German. 

English language skills

You must provide evidence of having achieved the minimum grade in one of the following language tests (the choice is yours) provided this is not more than 36 months old at the time of application. Any test with a date older than this will not be accepted.

An exemption from the English test is possible if you have completed your studies in English within a language community, in which English is the main spoken language. 

German language skills

If - and only if - you are applying with a foreign academic qualification and need to satisfy admission requirements in German which can be completed during the program of study, you will need – before starting your studies – to demonstrate sufficient proficiency in German comparable with the German test regulations set out by the Executive Board of the University of Bern. Rules for bachelor's degree programs apply in this case. A minimum of level C1 of the  Common European Framework of Reference for Languages  is required.

• General admission requirements
• Application and admission with a Swiss degree
• Application and admission with an international degree

For questions regarding application and admission, please contact the Admissions Office.

• Admission requirements
• Application deadlines

Current UniBE students

Apply for a change to the Master of Arts in Political, Legal, and Economic Philosophy, Universität Bern by self-service as part of the re-registration for the next semester. Renewal of semester registration → Self-service Recognition of academic achievements Procedure and timing of the renewal of semester registration    

Application with a Swiss degree

Online application Assessment Steps from application to registration  

Application with an international degree

Online application CHECKLIST - Documents for your application / Important information Steps from application to registration

  For questions regarding application and admission, please contact the Admissions Office.

Scholarships, Grants, Financial Support

Please check the website of the University of Bern for information on scholarships, grants and financial support . The PLEP program and the Institute of Philosophy can unfortunately not offer any financial support, grants or scholarships.

The interdisciplinary degree in Political, Legal, and Economical Philosophy (PLEP) is designed to allow students to study the ethical dimensions of public policy, corporate and non-governmental action in fields as diverse as health policy, employment relations, the environment, and international relations.

By providing a structured introduction to appropriate methods of the disciplines of Philosophy, Politics, Law, and Economics and, more particularly, to ethical reasoning, policy-making, and implementation students have the knowledge and skills to pursue a whole range of future careers and professional activities.

After finishing the PLEP I....

"...got an internship at the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, United Nations and International Organizations Division." - Angela Müller

"...found a job at a daily newspaper in Liechtenstein. I work there mainly in the political section." - Martin Hasler

"...worked for an animal welfare organization. At the moment I work for the Ethikschule Kind und Tier in Basel (perfect combination of highly urgent theoretical and practical ethical questions)." -Sarah Heiligentag

"...worked as Associate Protection Officer for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). My job is to make sure that the Buthanese refugees in Nepal have access to the national courts of justice and that their right to a fair trial is respected."

"...continued on a PhD at the University of Osnabrück." - Kathrin Schuster

"...joined a PhD program in practical philosophy which is part of the Research Priority Program in Ethics at the University of Zurich. I'm currently working on the following subjects: ethics of risk, food security and financial speculation in commodity markets, and the moral evaluation of high frequency trading." - Anna Zuber

"...worked at a NGO in Nepal." -Mirko Huber

"..did an internship at the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development and began my doctoral studies at the Goethe-University in Frankfurt am Main." - Julian Culp

Private/Public Sector Positions

• Liechensteiner Volksblatt (Liechtenstein national newspaper), Head of the the editorial department economy
• SRF (Swiss public broadcasting company) Journalist / Video documentation
• Federal Office for Migration
• Office of Science, Technology and Higher Education at the Embassy of Switzerland in the UK, London, Internship
• Swiss Road Safety Council, Manager
• Clinical Ethics Unit of the University Hospital Bern (Inselspital), Internship
• UNHCR (The UN Refugee Agency), Nepal
• Animal Welfare Organization
• Womens Hope International (NGO), Fundraising and Public Relations
• Radio RaBe, Cultural community radio station in Berne, Switzerland
• Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, United Nations and International Organizations Division, Internship

Example Academic Positions

• PhD at the University of Bern (CH)
• University of Zurich (CH)
• Goethe University Frankfurt (D)
• Assistant at the Institute of Philosophy in Bern
• Assistant at the Faculty of Law, Institute of Criminal Law and Criminology, University of Bern

• Advanced Search

Business enterprises in public international law: the case for an international code on corporate responsibility

Heinemann, Andreas (2011). Business enterprises in public international law: the case for an international code on corporate responsibility. In: Fastenrath, Ulrich ; et al . From bilateralism to community interest: essays in honour of judge Bruno Simma. New York: Oxford University Press, 718-735.

Additional indexing

Authors, Affiliations, Collaborations

Similar Publications

Student’s Essay Leads Her to Global Symposium in Switzerland

Batten graduating MPP student Khalila Karefa-Kargbo recently returned from the St. Gallen Symposium in Switzerland where she was one of only 100 students from around the world qualifying through its Global Essay Competition to participate as a Leader of Tomorrow .

Now in its 53rd iteration, the symposium is held annually at the University of St. Gallen in Switzerland, outside Zurich, as a forum for international and intergenerational dialogue on economic, political and social issues. The theme for this year’s symposium focused on scarcity. The essay competition in which Karefa-Kargbo competed asked participants to address the question: “Striving for more or thriving with less – What pressing scarcity do you see, and how do you suggest to tackle it?”

In a bit of a departure from traditional topics, Karefa-Kargbo focused on what she sees as a rising scarcity of “recognizing the inherent humanity that binds us together.”

“I had a few ideas about more tangible topics, but around January as I was reading the news and talking to people, this idea came to me and I felt like I could put something really cool together by going more abstract,” said Karefa-Kargbo this week after her return from overseas.

As to the experience of spending the week attending panels and taking part in one-on-one discussions with global leaders and fellow “leaders of tomorrow,” Karefa-Kargbo said her greatest takeaway is that one person really can make a big difference.

“Many people I met really trusted themselves to do scary and hard things, like moving to a strange country for school or starting their own business, even when they were not sure if it would pay off. It was incredible meeting others who were struggling, like me, to envision the future, but were confident it would all work out. It was great getting to know others like me and realizing that I can be the author of my own life.”

Two of Karefa-Kargbo’s favorite speakers from the week included former Malian presidential candidate Niankoro Yéah Samaké and Lindiwe Mazibuko, public leader, writer, academic fellow and CEO of Futurelect .  She was also inspired by the symposium’s focus on intergenerational leadership and the valuable wisdom she gained through collectively looking at how the world currently looks and the vision of how it could look.

"I was struck by the fact that the total number of elected officials and parliamentarians in the whole world is only about 46,000. Of this number less than 30% are women and less than 3 percent are under 30. This showcases how our elected leaders don’t truly represent the world order, but also the capacity for change and the potential for representation to make a change."

After final exercises, Karefa-Kargbo is headed to Freetown, Sierra Leone, to spend time with family before returning to McLean, Virginia, to work for Capital One. For the long-term, she intends to stay connected with Leaders of Tomorrow.

Karefa-Kargbo’s essay can be viewed here .

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The Cannes Film Festival opened Tuesday with expectations that the big theme of this 77th edition will be #MeToo , even if rumors of an imminent bombshell exposé involving 10 prominent cinema figures were quashed overnight.

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The actress and filmmaker will be in Cannes for the world premiere on Wednesday evening of her resulting short film Moi Aussi , gathering 1,000 people who got in touch with her via social media channels to tell their stories.

However, frenzied media speculation that a #MeToo exposé naming 10 prominent film professionals was due to drop during Cannes dissipated overnight following a tough-talking rebuttal by investigative website Mediapart, which many local media outlets has cited as the expected source of the report.

Calling “the media show” around the rumors “pathetic”, the site explained that it would never publish a list.

“When we reveal facts about gender-based and sexual violence, as with all the topics of general public interest that we cover, we publish ‘investigations’ based on cross-checked information,” it wrote in a piece addressing the rumors.

“These often take several months, at least several weeks. Because the time for cross-checking information is incompressible, as is the process of giving the right to reply (which consists of questioning the people or institutions involved).

The Mediapart statement does not mean that #MeToo allegations will not emerge over the course of the festival.

On Monday, French women’s magazine Elle published an investigation into veteran award-winning producer and Cannes habitué Alain Sarde , detailing accusations dating back to the 1990s against him of rape, sexual assault and harassment by nine women, three of whom revealed their identities.

In another development, around 100 personalities from the world of culture and entertainment – including actresses Godrèche and Gérard Depardieu-accuser Charlotte Arnould as well as Isabelle Adjani, Charlotte Arnould, Emmanuelle Béart, Juliette Binoche, Emma de Caunes and Isild Le Besco  – published an open letter on the site of Le Monde on Tuesday calling for reforms to French laws around sexual crimes and the legal definition of consent.

“We come together to demand a comprehensive law against sexual and gender-based violence, ambitious and equipped with resources. Because, despite the courage of the victims, impunity is growing. It is unacceptable that the rate of dismissal of complaints for sexual violence has reached the crazy figure of 94% in 2022.,” read the letter.

The signatories said the proposed new law should clarify the definition of “rape” and “consent” and  introduce that of “incest”, suggesting that such a move would change the outcomes of many cases.  

Quizzed on her thoughts about France’s #MeToo wave at the opening day jury press conference, jury president  Greta Gerwig welcomed the developments.

“I think people in the community of movies telling their stories and changing things for the better is only good,” said the  Barbie  filmmaker. “I’ve seen substantial changes in the American film community; I think it’s important to expand the conversation.”

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