Course Description
International Laws of War, with an emphasis on the historical origins of modern humanitarian law, civilian victimization during war, unresolved or recurrent conflict cases, and post-conflict justice processes.
Athena Title
International Humanitarian Law
Equivalent Courses
Not open to students with credit in INTL 4215E, INTL 4215H
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
Through literature, active learning, and empirical observations, this course will help students: 1. To understand the roots of modern laws of war concerning both when and how states engage in uses of force; 2. To articulate and critically evaluate ongoing debates and legal cases on recent international conflicts; 3. To develop an analytical and mindful approach to the study of civilian victimization during war; and 4. To grasp the methods and scope of post-conflict justice procedures and outcomes.
Topical Outline
Historical origins: from Sun Tzu to Clausewitz Defining jus ad bellum and jus in bello Just War Theory and the World Wars Geneva Conventions and Protocols Prisoners of War and Guantanamo Bay Civilian victimization during war The Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict Legal accountability for non-state actors The ICJ and the ICC Post-conflict justice in Rwanda and Yugoslavia
Syllabus