LAW 975 - Law of the Global Commons: Law of the Sea, Space Law, and Cyberlaw

College of Law
3 credit(s)

Course Overview: Law of the Global Commons is a national security and international law-based course that will address emerging legal and policy challenges within the maritime, space, and cyber domains. The course will begin with an overview of international law and the literature on collective action and tragedy of the commons before moving to a substantive discussion of each domain. First, within law of the sea, we will discuss the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the current challenges facing the world¿s oceans, which constitute 70% of the earth¿s surface. How is climate change impacting the ocean? What is the future for Arctic governance and the South China Sea? Second, within space law, we will discuss the Outer Space Treaty, its follow-on agreements, and the emergence of private space exploration. Where are the gaps in space law? Is this a domain for international collaboration or confrontation? Third, we will address the cyber domain, with a focus on the ongoing cybersecurity challenges facing the United States and the rest of the world.