International Humanitarian Law for a New

Armed conflict and violent crisis situations are undergoing profound transformation. Interstate wars, alongside prolonged internal conflicts, seem more than ever before to have global effects, while artificial intelligence, drones, attacks on energy supplies and critical infrastructure, and the use of mercenaries are reshaping the conduct of hostilities. At the same time, the emerging international order increasingly departs from the long-established principles of International Humanitarian Law, which are intended to protect victims of war and to restrain the methods and means of warfare.  Against this background, the course gives particular attention to the interaction between legal norms, political decision-making, military realities, and humanitarian action, enabling students to critically assess the role of international law in shaping and responding to the emerging international order. 

Designed for students interested in understanding how the emerging new international order must be based on the legal protection of the individual in war and on the regulation of the use of force between and within states, the course equips participants with the conceptual and practical tools to identify, interpret, and apply international legal norms in complex, real-world conflict situations. In an era of rapidly advancing artificial intelligence, the course also emphasizes the enduring importance of human judgment, equipping students with the analytical and critical thinking skills needed to interpret legal norms, compare competing arguments, and make informed decisions in complex and often uncertain conflict situations.

Drawing on conflicts in the Middle East, Ukraine, Sudan, Myanmar and other areas the course addresses the protection of civilians and medical services, attacks on critical infrastructure, humanitarian access, displacement and detention, the use of drones and artificial intelligence, and accountability for serious violations of humanitarian law. Particular attention is also given to the role of international criminal law in addressing serious violations of international humanitarian law, including individual criminal responsibility, the prosecution of war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide, and the contribution of international and national courts to accountability and justice.

This seminar combines short reading assignments with close-reading exercises, small-group scenario analyses, role-play simulations with decision memos, peer-teaching activities, and brief