LAWS 4606
International Law of Armed Conflict
UN Charter prohibition of the use of force. Exceptional, permissible uses of armed force. Role of Security Council in determining legality of armed intervention. Collective security, peacemaking, peacekeeping, neutrality, prohibited means of warfare. Humanitarian International Law, Geneva Red Cross Conventions, war crimes, International Criminal Court.
2026
Readings
- Marc Weller, “Introduction: International Law and the Problem of War”, in Oxford Handbook of the Use of Force in International Law, library online; 2) Julian Lindley-French and Yves
- Boyer, “Introduction”, in The Oxford Handbook of War, library online; 3) Lawrence Freedman, ch. 1
- Serge Sur, ch. 8 “The Evolving Legal Aspects of War”, in Oxford Handbook of War
- Paul Schulte, ch. 7 “Morality and War”, in Oxford Handbook of War; 3) Michael Glennon, ch. 3 “The Limitations of Traditional Rules and Institutions Relating to the Use of Force”, in Oxford Handbook of the
- Use of Force in IL; and 4) James Crawford, ch. 4 “The Continued Relevance of Established Rules and Institutions Relating to the Use of Force”, in Oxford Handbook of the Use of Force in IL.
- Christian Henderson, ch. 1 “The General Breadth and Scope of the Prohibition of the Threat or Use of Force” and ch. 2 “The Meaning of ‘Force’”; and 3) Gina Heathcote, ch. 5 “Feminist
2026
Readings
- Emily Crawford and Alison Pert, International Humanitarian Law (3rd edition) (Cambridge University Press, 2025). Available on reserve at the library (one hard copy). About
Prerequisites & course information
Prerequisite(s): LAWS 2908 or PAPM 3000 , LAWS 2601 and fourth-year Honours standing. Seminars three hours a week.