In this course, you will explore international rules governing the use of force, including an introduction to the laws of war (International Humanitarian Law). Finally, you will also consider the dilemma of humanitarian intervention, which you can later apply in the game Saving Setrus.

Course learning outcomes

After studying this course, you should be able to:

• Explain the rules governing the law on the use of force and their evolution
• Analyse case examples relating to the use of force in international law and be able to critically analyse how the rules of international law have been (mis)applied in particular situations
• Understand how international law regulates the conduct in wars of both international and non-international character
• Comment on the key challenges to the operation of the rules on the use of force in the contemporary international setting
• Demonstrate enhanced skills and confidence in conducting research in international law.