Rules of War

All’s fair in love and war is a popular saying. But does truly anything go in warfare? It may surprise you to know that even warfare has rules that can be enforced. People for thousands of years have placed limits on armed conflict in order to protect the vulnerable, the land, and the future. This course will introduce you to international humanitarian law, also known as the rules of war. We will look at both historical and contemporary situations to see how IHL aims to protect life and human dignity during armed conflict and to prevent and reduce the suffering and devastation caused by war. Rules of War class will examine the devastation caused by war by studying what has happened and is currently happening in the world today, and by building upon students’ own experiences and ways of thinking. Students will get the opportunity to step into the shoes of actual people who are caught in situations where humanitarian action is required. How can we protect our world from the devastation of armed conflict? Let’s explore this societal issue together.