The Law of War

Catalog description

According to Colonel Wang Ziangsui of the Chinese People's Liberation Army, developing countries should recognize that "the first rule of unrestricted warfare is that there are no rules, with nothing forbidden." Is this true, or can there be Jus in Bello (Justice in War)? In the first phase of this course, we will examine the philosophy of regulating the law of war, the history of attempts to regulate warfare, and the United States' current posture on the law of war. In the second phase, we will examine laws governing the use of force during conflict (military necessity, proportionality, unnecessary suffering, and the targeting of civilians). We will conclude with a study of the laws governing post-submission opponents( the Geneva Conventions) and issues such as detention, lawful ruses, and unlawful perfidy. Credit Hour : 1-3