Law and Ethics of Armed Conflict

Catalog description

We will explore legal and policy frameworks involving armed conflict. A descriptive approach is utilized to examine what the law is, while a normative approach is embraced to inquire whether the law is what it should be. Beginning with the law related to utilizing armed force, we will assess paradigms such as traditional just war theory and the emerging revisionist perspective, the present United Nations construct, and other related models. Law and policy involving the conduct of hostilities and enforcement of that law are examined from an international, domestic, and comparative perspective. Practical application of law and policy is emphasized by engaging in a thorough case study of an actual incident involving the use of armed force and by exploring the effect of emerging technologies, such as cyber, artificial intelligence, and space capabilities, on the law.