Theory and international law instruction

The study of international relations is dominated by a series of so-called grand theories - Realism. Liberalism, Feminism, Constructivism, and several more. In contrast, traditional international law instruction has eschewed theory in favor of thick description. This chapter examines several approaches to incorporating theoretical ideas and generalizations in international law courses as mechanisms to promote student understanding. Specifically, we examine several theoretical approaches drawn from international relations and law, and (1) provide a brief summary of the tenets, (2) indicate how international law fits within the theoretical framework, and (3) provide several concrete examples of how theoretical thinking from the theory(ies) in question could be used to promote student learning.