LAW 351 - Law of War Seminar.

The conflict in Afghanistan, war on terrorism, unrest in the Middle East, and the growing number of international war crimes tribunals, highlight the importance of the international norms governing armed conflict. Public discussion is often plagued by misunderstandings of these norms, and is typically limited to vague references to the Geneva Conventions. The law of war 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 war, 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 seminar 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. Student work will involve a research paper (which meets the upper-level writing requirement), plus several short memo responses to contemporary events and/or articles. Two hours. Bill