International Law and Human Rights
About the Cluster
International law plays a crucial part in the existence of daily sovereign and commercial transactions between nation States at every level of government and commerce. As such, general international law provides an essential framework for the regulation of all forms of intercourse between States. Research and study in the field involves an examination of the rules that underpin the UN security system, such as the use of force; the creation and recognition of States; the formation of rules of law; and, the peaceful settlement of international disputes, to give but some examples. The study of international law may also comprise commercial aspects of relations between States, such as transnational commercial law and corporate governance, together with conflict of laws. Since 1945 international human rights law has taken independent flight, and is now regarded as one of the fundamental aspects of the law of nations. The political context of law is a constant consideration in the field.
Key Researchers
Staff in the School of Law are engaged in cutting edge and often interdisciplinary research in a variety of areas in the general field of public and private international law, such as: general international law; use of force; self-defence; the balance between liberty and security & responses to international terrorism; peaceful settlement of disputes; issues of sovereignty; and, private/commercial international law.
The work of key researchers in the cluster can be viewed on their staff web pages:
The International Law Research Cluster has particular synergies with the Graduate Institute of Political and International Studies (GIPIS) with which it shares common research interests. In June 2008, Professor Sandy Ghandhi and Dr Robert Barnidge were successful in their bid to the Leverhulme Trust as part of an interdisciplinary team at Reading to study . The International Law Cluster also has close links with the Law School's European Law Research Cluster .
The Cluster also welcomes proposals from academics who would like to spend some time with us as a Visiting Scholar. Enquiries should be directed to Professor Sandy Ghandhi.
Taught postgraduate programmes
The Research Cluster offers a major taught postgraduate programme: LLM International Law and World Order. For details of the programme, consult the programme specification. For information about entry requirements, admission and being a postgraduate student in the Law School at Reading, see the School's Taught Postgraduate web pages.
Postgraduate research students
PhD students associated with the Cluster have close contact with academic staff in the group. As well as the usual supervision arrangements, candidates are invited to participate in reading groups and seminars in the area, encouraged to present conference papers and, wherever possible, given an opportunity to teach in the area. In every way, the Cluster aims to support candidates in a way that helps position them for their chosen career path on completion of their doctorate.
Postgraduate research proposals are welcomed in all areas of International Law and Human Rights. Detailed information about postgraduate research and funding opportunities in Law can be found in the School's Postgraduate Research pages. Prospective candidates who wish to discuss their research proposal should start by contacting the School's Director of Postgraduate Research, Dr Lawrence McNamara.
Current students working in the area include:
Anan Al Sheik Hadar
Anan's research focuses on regionalizing international criminal law with particular reference to the Middle East. Her research interests include the International Criminal Court and the crime of aggression, the protection of human rights in international cooperation in international matters.
Francis Grimal
Francis is examining the concept of threats of force between states under International Law. The research includes historical analysis of threats of force in the pre-Charter era and also how International law is dealing (if at all) with threats of force in the post-Charter era with specific reference to Nuclear Deterrence vis-à-vis Iran and North Korea.
Rosalynd Roberts
Rosalynd is currently researching the relationship between the Security Council of the United Nations and the International Criminal Court. Her research interests include Collective Security, Security Council powers under Article 24 of the United Nations Charter, the establishment and the Statute of the International Criminal Court and International Criminal Law.
Candidates who have recently completed their PhD include:
Becca Sampson (2008)
Becca's thesis looked at the changing nature of childhood in post-apartheid South Africa and its impact on the street child. She is interested in the role of domestic legislation and international human rights law within this transformative framework. What impact has the politico-legal metamorphosis to democracy had on the street child?
Anneke Smit (2008)
Anneke's thesis explored the nexus between the establishment of housing and property restitution mechanisms in post-conflict situations and displaced persons' decision-making about returning to their homes. She challenged the now-seemingly entrenched wisdom about the usefulness of restitution mechanisms in the post-conflict context. The methodology was both theory-based - rooted in property law and migration theory - and socio-legal. She conducted extensive field-work including semi-structured interviews and questionnaire research. Anneke's PhD research has been disseminated through several seminars, conferences and publications, and has been supported by a grant from the Harold Hyam Wingate Foundation.
Graham Melling (2005)
'The continuing validity of the United Nations Charter's Use of Force Paradigm'.
Trilochan Upreti (2004)
'International Watercourse Law with Reference to Nepal'
Yitiha Simbeye (2003)
'The Erosion of Sovereign and Diplomatic Immunity under International Criminal Law'
Contact us
Contact details for key researchers are available through the links above.
For postgraduate research enquiries, contact Dr Lawrence McNamara at l.mcnamara@reading.ac.uk.
For LLM International Law and World Order enquiries, contact the Law School's admissions officer, Mrs Sue Holsgrove at s.c.holsgrove@reading.ac.uk.