LAW OF WAR SEMINAR
(LAWG-4049) - 3 UNITS

Two decades of the "War on Terror" and the Russian invasion of Ukraine have kept the international law governing the use of force in the public spotlight. Accusations of war crimes, crimes against humanity, and aggression are tossed about by pundits and politicians with little knowledge of the actual law. This course will examine the rules governing both the resort to force and conduct of hostilities. Class meetings will mix lecture, discussion and small group exercises to provide a systematic overview while addressing current issues such as holding President Putin criminally accountable, the validity of ongoing Guantanamo detentions and trials, and the applicability of "old law" to new technologies. Students will not be required to write a research paper in the fall 2023 offering; grading will be based on class participation, short thought papers, and an open-book take-home final exam. Prior exposure to international law is not required.

Pass/Fail:
No

Prerequisites:
None