This advanced law course provides a comprehensive examination of the doctrine of diplomatic immunity and privileges in international law. The course explores the historical evolution, theoretical foundations, treaty framework, state practice, and contemporary controversies surrounding diplomatic protections. Students will engage deeply with the Vienna Convention system, customary international law, host-state obligations, jurisdictional conflicts, abuse of immunity, accountability mechanisms, and emerging diplomatic challenges in an era of globalization, security threats, and transnational crime.
The course situates diplomatic immunity at the intersection of sovereignty, international cooperation, human rights, and domestic legal systems. It emphasizes both doctrinal analysis and policy critique, examining how immunity operates in real-world diplomatic disputes, litigation, and political negotiations. Special attention is given to tensions between immunity and justice, including cases involving serious crimes, human rights violations, and labor exploitation.
This seminar assumes prior coursework in public international law.
Course Objectives
By the end of the course, students should be able to:
-
Explain the legal foundations and purposes of diplomatic immunity.
-
Interpret and apply the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations and related instruments.
-
Analyze jurisdictional conflicts between sending and receiving states.
-
Evaluate case law involving diplomatic agents and immunities.
-
Assess contemporary abuses and accountability mechanisms.
-
Critically engage with normative debates surrounding immunity and equality before the law.
-
Compare diplomatic immunity regimes with consular, special mission, and international organization immunities.
-
Understand diplomatic law in the context of human rights and international criminal accountability.
-
Develop advanced doctrinal and policy arguments about reform.
-
Situate diplomatic immunity within broader structures of international relations.
