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Department of International Relations · ANU College of Asia and the Pacific
The last hundred years have seen brutal wars, murderous totalitarian regimes, genocide, and nuclear weapons. But we have also witnessed – to a certain extent because of the facts just mentioned – an unprecedented development of international law, a resurgence of interest in international ethics and the ethics of war, humanitarian initiatives on a large scale, and the founding of international organizations such as the United Nations, designed to foster peace and international cooperation. The ethical appraisal of war has a long history in Western political thought, and encompasses several different approaches, including the traditions known as realism, pacifism, and just war. This course will examine writings on the ethics of peace and war by a range of authors (from Cicero and Augustine to Walzer and McMahan) and apply them to a range of contemporary issues (humanitarian intervention, preventive war, civil war, drones, human shields, etc.).
Course Participation
Learning outcomes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Opinion Piece - 1,000 words
Learning outcomes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Literature Review - 1,500 words
Learning outcomes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Research Essay - 2,500 words
Learning outcomes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Approximately 130 hours comprising seminars as well as associated preparation, independent study, and assessment time. Please note this is a general guide, averaged over the semester and the final hours ultimately depend on the individual's ability in reading and writing. Other Information The course is conducted through seminars with an emphasis on interactive teaching aimed at engaging all students in active participation.
To be advised