2024-2025 Catalog

LAW-2339 Laws of War

This course examines the role of the law and the lawyer in alleviating the suffering caused by armed conflict. We will examine the development of the law from ancient times. We will cover the sources of the law of war, including treaties, conventions and customary international law. We will examine the application of the four principles of the law of war: military necessity, humanity, distinction and proportionality. Topics will include international and U.S. response to war crimes, combatant status, terrorism, internal armed conflict and boy soldiers as well as human trafficking and sexual violence as tools of war. We will discuss the role of the operational law judge advocate in combat.

Credits

2