LLIR9517 Legal Approaches to Conflict

This topic will introduce students to the broad range of international laws and practices that regulate the use of conflict. Covering inter-state and intra-state conflict, from the laws of war and humanitarian law to the political and legal arrangements put into place to assist a state in transitioning from conflict to a peaceful society, the laws of conflict represent important means by which the use of force is constrained and controlled, even as these laws very often reveal their flaws. This topic will give students an understanding of this important area of international law, the institutions involved, and some of the challenges that the legal regime faces in its implementation.

This topic aims to teach students to:

• Understand the international law of conflict, including some of the debates in this field
• Understand the international law and structures involved in post-conflict and transitional justice, including some of the debates in these fields
• Deepen students understanding of the place of the laws of conflict and post-conflict and transitional justice in international law and international relations
• Think critically about the nature and effectiveness of the international law of conflict and of post-conflict justice, including the challenges in its modern implementation
• Develop the skills of scholarly research, writing, and critical analysis

1. Articulate an understanding of the international legal regimes that attempt to regulate conflict and post-conflict and transitional justice
2. Develop a holistic appreciation of the various international mechanisms and institutions that regulate conflict and their interactions
3. Evaluate the effectiveness of the international legal regimes that attempt to regulate conflict and post-conflict and transitional justice, and the challenges facing these regimes
4. Work effectively as a member of a team
5. Communicate clearly and effectively in written work (including appropriate citation and referencing)