module

Undergraduate Module Descriptor

LAW3146: International Law, Conflict and Strategy

This module descriptor refers to the 2020/1 academic year.

Overview

The purpose of this module is to explore the relationship between international law and strategy. It provides you with an opportunity to study in greater depth the rules of international law governing conflict and security, the legal challenges presented by contemporary security threats and the impact that strategic considerations have on the development and application of international law. The module was designed and is taught jointly by the Law School and the Strategy and Security Institute, allowing you to benefit from the insights offered by both disciplines.

The first part of the module will provide you with a basic foundation in international law and strategic thought. The second part will ask you to engage with international law and strategy by focusing on four themes: the use of force in international relations, the regulation of warfare, the challenges posed by technology and the question of international accountability and justice. Each of these themes will examine a range of cases, conflicts and contemporary challenges—such as the global war on terror, intervention in Syria, cyber operations, drone warfare, hybrid threats, automated weapons and accountability for mass atrocities—to explore the competing legal and policy considerations involved. The third part of the course will revisit the relationship between international law and strategy from a practical perspective and draw some lessons.

There are no pre-requisites for this course. The module may be taken by students who have studied International Law and the United Kingdom (LAW2144). Students will be expected to attend at least one relevant seminar convened by the Exeter Centre for International Law to complement their work in class.