Law of Armed Conflict

The war in Ukraine has resulted in a heightened focus on the importance of the international norms governing armed conflict. Such concern is nothing new: the conflicts in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Syria, war on terrorism, unrest in the Middle East and Africa, and the growing number of international war crimes tribunals, are but a few of the recent events generating interest in the topic. Public discussion is often plagued by misunderstandings of the applicable norms, and is typically limited to vague references to the Geneva Conventions. The law of armed conflict is much broader, including numerous other treaties, state practices which have developed into customary law, and the decisions of various courts and tribunals. However, it is always evolving and changing, as the balance between military necessity and humanitarian concerns is constantly being redrawn. Students will be provided with a thorough grounding in the law of armed conflict, applying the associated rules with past, current, and potential future events. Students will be invited to critically examine the efficacy of current rules and advocate for required changes or improvements, both in classroom discussion and through the writing assignments. This course should appeal to those contemplating careers in public policy, international relations, human rights, or the military, but also to those interested in exploring an interesting and compact body of law which is increasingly becoming a part of public discourse.