Law, Ethics, and the Protection of Civilians in War: Examining the Law of Armed Conflict

Despite the development of extensive international laws and regulations over the past century, civilians continue to face horrific violence in war. And, despite the global adoption of the Law of Armed Conflict - also known as international humanitarian law, or the laws of war - notable cases of atrocities in places such as Sudan, Ukraine, and Gaza continue to mark headlines on a near-daily basis. This course examines the role of the Law of Armed Conflict in both preventing and permitting violence against civilians in wartime. The course will examine legal, normative, and ethical prohibitions against harming noncombatants, how such prohibitions have developed, and whether - and how - such prohibitions can be effective in preventing atrocities in war.