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ANU Law School · ANU College of Law, Governance and Policy
Anyone who thought that the end of the Cold War would bring about a period of global peace and stability has suffered a series of rude awakenings throughout the intervening period. There have been, and continue to be, wars between states, civil wars within states and terrorist outrages that have shaken the very foundations of the nation state. Modern conflict is characterised by new weapons, new technologies, new environments in which to fight and new kinds of participants in the hostilities. The emerging, increasingly fragmented and rapidly changing notion of conflict challenges, and is challenged by, a body of international law that seems to have difficulty in adapting to these new developments. This course will tackle the most pressing and controversial contemporary issues by looking at the problems that are posed, by considering the legal arrangements that are currently in place and by assessing whether these arrangements are adequate. The topics have been selected to enable students to grapple with important matters of international concern that are currently challenging policy makers, jurists, academics and others at the highest levels. The aim is to introduce students to strategic level decision-making with all its complexities and ambiguities. The course is structured into lectures, taking a distinct topic within each lecture. In the associated seminars, students will work through practical problems in sub-groups thereafter presenting and discussing their proposed solutions in the plenary setting. Some background understanding of international law as it affects conflict would be a desirable advantage, but the course can and will be taught on the basis of no prior knowledge. Students undertaking this intensive course are unlikely to see the world in quite the same light as they did before doing so. Dr Bill Boothby, an internationally renowned humanitarian law and weapons law scholar who has written authoritative monographs on both subjects, will teach the course. To develop their knowledge and skills, students will engage in a range of learning activities, which includes lectures and vignettes.
The proposed means of assessment for this course will provide students with at least two pieces of assessment, including one piece during the semester. More information about the means of assessment, including the relationship between the assessment and the learning outcomes of the course, will be available in the Class Summary and on the course Canvas page.
Learning outcomes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
Classes offered in non-standard sessions will be taught semi-intensively with compulsory contact hours of approximately 26 hours of face-to-face teaching. The course will also require advanced preparation through assigned readings. In total, it is anticipated that the hours required for completion of this course (class preparation, teaching and completion of assessment) will not exceed 120 hours. Classes offered during semester periods are expected to have three contact hours per week. Students are generally expected to devote at least 10 hours overall per week to this course. In total, it is anticipated that the hours required for completion of this course (class preparation, teaching and completion of assessment) will not exceed 120 hours.
Students must rely on the approved Class Summary which will be posted to the Programs and Courses site approximately two weeks prior to the commencement of the course. Alternatively, this information will be published in the Program course list when finalised. Preliminary Reading Students must rely on the approved Class Summary which will be posted to the Programs and Courses site approximately two weeks prior to the commencement of the course.