This module explores approaches to the history and historiography of international law, with a particular focus on the eighteenth to mid-twentieth century, and themes of war and peace-making.

History of interational law is rapidly evolving field, opening up lines of inquiry on empire, commerce, war, peace, diplomacy and rights. It offers insight into substantive law, placing legal knowlegde in a larger intellectual, political, and cultural context; a broader basis for theorization about law and its chanfe over time; and a more critical and analytical approaach to reading particular texts and artefacts.

This module introduces LLM students to history of international law through two elements. The first is an overview of the hostories of international lae. This will (1) introduce the different approaches to hostroy (intellectual, cultural, diplomatic, etc.) which have been most prominent in the study of international lae; (2) explore trends and controversies in historiography (who has written hostroies; when, why, and how); and (3) trace the development of international law as we understand it from earlier law of nations and natural law traditions.

The second element is a closer study of a partiular aspect of international law, as a lens on the larger developments, and evenue into research for student essays. In 2022-23 this will be peace and peace-making, from the eighteenth century to the present. We will explore orthodox understanding of peace and war in the law of nations, international law and public law, and their relations to the larger universe of ideas about peace, and to peace-making practices. Histories of International Law will complement modules on contemporary Use fo Force and International Humanitarian Law, with a more conceptual focue; more historical contextualisation of doctrinal developments; and an emphasis on pre-1945 periods. It will also intersect with the envisages development of a new half-module in legal history in future years (to reflect new recruitment in this sub-field), which will focus primarily on the pre-eighteenth century).

We will have a strong emphasis on not only learning but doign history. Some readings will be 'primary' sources (i.e. materials produced bu the actors whose history we are studying), and we will consider how to read and interpret these: what do they capture and obscure? How do our readings differ if we read as historians rather than lawyers? We wil approach seondary readings not only as sources of information but as arguments to be dissected: what concepts and approaches are being deployed? How elese might this phenomemon be analyzed? We will also integrate introductory sessions on use of arhival materials, to help students advance their personal reseach.

There are no formal prerequisites, but some familiarity with public international law (equivalebt to that obtained in an udergraduate law course) is assumed. Students without this will need to do further reading, on which I will provide guidance. No particular study in history is required. Those with prior study in history should still find the module challenging, as the emphasis on law of nations / international law is likely to provide a cross-cutting approach to other historical fields.