demonstrate a thorough understanding of the different theoretical approaches employed to question the ethics of war

The aim of this course is to introduce students to different approaches to the moral questions raised by the practice of war in international society. It will provoke students to reflect upon the salience of historical traditions such as pacifism, realism, and the just war to the issues raised by twenty-first century warfare.

By the end of this course students will be able to:

■ demonstrate a thorough understanding of the different theoretical approaches employed to question the ethics of war;

■ engage and analyse the major traditions of thought pertaining to justice and warfare, i.e., realism, pacifism, and just war;

■ list, define, and problematize the central principles associated with the just war tradition;

■ apply and interrogate these just war principles to historical and contemporary cases;

■ discuss the continuing utility (or lack thereof) of the just war tradition in the context of the contemporary security environment.