D12. Law of War

The term “the law of war” might seem an oxymoron. Are there any meaningful legal constraints on warfare? Or is all fair in love and war? This course will examine the central principles of international humanitarian law, which has developed over centuries through custom, treaties, judicial proclamations and international conventions. One scholar has called the law of war “a collection of international prescriptions on the conduct of war and the protection of victims of combat.” We will first examine the historical and philosophical underpinnings of the law of war, then address the evolution and application of international humanitarian law focusing on the Hague and Geneva Conventions and other protocols. We will also examine how the law of war is enforced and look at a number of case studies, including the Russia-Ukraine war and the Israel-Hamas war.