This course will examine the major theoretical approaches employed in considering the ethics of warfare. It will introduce students to the central categories and principles associated with both the justified recourse to war and the just conduct of war. Finally, students will be prompted to consider various challenges to traditional ethical approaches to conflict in the context of the twenty-first century.

Lecture 1 hour x 10 weeks

Tutorial 1 hour x 10 weeks

None

None

Students will be required to write

 one essay (2,500 words) 50% on ethical principles of war and peace;

 and one case study (2,500 words) 50% applying ethical principles to a particular conflict

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 as well as various ethical issues raised by twenty-first century warfare.

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

â–  demonstrate a thorough understanding of different theoretical approaches employed in considering the ethics of war and peace

â–  engage and analyse the major traditions of thought pertaining to the ethics of war and peace

â–  evaluate the central principles associated with these traditions of thought

â–  consider these ethical principles in relation to historical and contemporary cases

â–  assess the continuing relevance of traditional ethical thinking about war in the context of the contemporary security environment

Students must submit at least 75% by weight of the components (including examinations) of the course's summative assessment.