The University of Sheffield
School of Law
Photo of Dr Russell Buchan

Dr Russell Buchan

Position: Lecturer
Email Address: R.J.Buchan@sheffield.ac.uk
Telephone: +44 (0)114 222 6769
Room No: EF14a

 Academic Profile

I am a lecturer in international law at the University of Sheffield School Of Law. I am the admission tutor for the School’s undergraduate programmes and also the academic coordinator for mooting within the School.

Member of the Sheffield Centre for International and European Law Research Cluster.

Qualifications

Teaching and Learning

I teach predominantly in my area of research: public international law. This enables me to teach with enthusiasm and to present to my students my interpretations of international law and, if necessary, how it should be reformed. Importantly, I expect my students to participate in this process; challenging my ideas and interpretations, forcing me to reflect critically upon my research. In light of this expectation, my students are therefore expected to not just understand the law (and its application) but to engage with it normatively; what’s good about the law? What should be maintained? What should be changed? For me, this enables teaching and learning to be as enjoyable as it is rewarding.

The modules I teach are:

Undergraduate Postgraduate and MA
Foundations of International Law The Law of International Organisations (Convenor)
Advanced Issues in International Law The Politics of International Law (Joint Convenor)
Introduction to Legal Processes International Criminal Law (Convenor)
International Law and the Use of Force (Convenor)
International Humanitarian Law (Convenor)

Research Interests

Key Publications

Buchan, R. (2012) United Nations Peacekeeping Operations: when can unlawful acts committed by peacekeeping forces be attri9buted to the United Nations? Legal Studies (forthcoming).

Buchan, R. (2011) The International Law of Naval Blockade and Israel’s Interception of the Mavi Marmara. Netherlands International Law Review, 209.

Buchan, R., Jones, H. and White, N. D. (2010) The Externalization of Peacekeeping: Policy, Responsibility and Accountability. Journal of International Peacekeeping 281.

Buchan, R. (2010) Explaining Liberal Aggression. The International Community Law Review, 11

Buchan, R. (2008) The International Society and the International Community. The International Community Law Review, 3.

Buchan, R. (2007) The International Community and the Occupation of Iraq. Journal of Conflict and Security Law, 37.

Recent Invited Papers and Keynote Lectures

Buchan, R. Determining Attribution of Cyber Attacks (2010) 21-23 September, Belgium.
Buchan, R. Cyber War and Self-Defence (2011) 13 June, Belgium.
Buchan, R. Cyber Attacks: Unlawful Uses of Force or Prohibited Interventions (2011) 21 October, University of Glasgow
Buchan, R. The EU and Its Admission Process: Romania and Bulgaria (2011) 2 December, University of Sheffield, Politics School.

Areas of Research Supervision