When normal peacetime relations between States break down and they resort to the use of force, it is the law of armed conflict that determines which acts of hostility are lawful. The idea that law should regulate what is done in war may seem strange, but it is nowadays well accepted. Accordingly, the law determines which targets may be attacked and which classes of person and object must be protected. Some persons and objects are specially protected, and it is vitally important that all involved understand what these rules provide.
The Australian Government is committed to ensuring that hostilities undertaken by members of the Australian Defence Force are conducted in accordance with applicable legal rules. Participants who have completed this course will be able to form an informed view of whether events, involving ADF personnel and otherwise, accord with the relevant law.
The other topic of similar importance comprises the principles and rules that determine which weapons and methods of warfare can lawfully be used during an armed conflict. Weapons law places important obligations on States, and the course will show how these can be complied with. The course will, in connection with targeting and weaponry, unpack and explain the principles on which these two elements of the law are based, and will then show how specific rules of conduct are based on those principles.
The course will consist of a series of lectures that collectively cover the relevant topics. At suitable intervals during the course, the participants will go into workgroups in order to discuss and solve pre-set problems linked to the substance of the preceding lecture. The solutions of each work group are then presented in plenary and are discussed. The purpose of this approach is to reinforce understanding of each topic in turn.
An internationally renowned international humanitarian law and weapons law scholar who has written authoritative monographs on both subjects, Dr Bill Boothby, has kindly agreed to visit Australia to teach this course.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:
- Interpret and evaluate various international law rules that regulate the conduct of hostilities and that determine which weapons may lawfully be used in an armed conflict
- Critically analyse a range of hypothetical targeting and weapons law scenarios
- Critically analyse and evaluate international law issues arising from the conduct of hostilities and from the possession and use of weapons
- Plan and execute complex legal research in order to produce original scholarship exploring legal issues arising in the targeting and weapons law contexts
Indicative Assessment
- Class Participation (10) [LO 1,2,3]
- 1200 Word think piece (20) [LO 1,2,3]
- Research essay 4,200 words maximum including footnotes (70) [LO 4]
In response to COVID-19: Please note that Semester 2 Class Summary information (available under the classes tab) is as up to date as possible. Changes to Class Summaries not captured by this publication will be available to enrolled students via Wattle.
The ANU uses Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. While the use of Turnitin is not mandatory, the ANU highly recommends Turnitin is used by both teaching staff and students. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the ANU Online website.
Workload
Approximately 26 hours of face to face teaching, usually taught as an intensive. 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.
Click here for the LLM Masters Program timetable.
Inherent Requirements
Not applicable
Requisite and Incompatibility
Prescribed Texts
Y Dinstein, The Conduct of Hostilities under the Law of International Armed Conflict, Third Edition (2016) CUP
And
W H Boothby, Weapons and the Law of Armed Conflict, Second Edition (2016) OUP
These texts are available at the Co-op Bookshop on campus. Contact the Co-op Bookshop by telephone (02 6249 6244) or on-line at http://www.coop-bookshop.com.au/.
Preliminary Reading
Students must rely on the approved Class Summary which will be posted to the Programs and Courses site approximately 2 weeks prior to the commencement of the course.
Fees
Tuition fees are for the academic year indicated at the top of the page.
If you are a domestic graduate coursework or international student you will be required to pay tuition fees. Tuition fees are indexed annually. Further information for domestic and international students about tuition and other fees can be found at Fees.
- Student Contribution Band:
- 3
- Unit value:
- 6 units
If you are an undergraduate student and have been offered a Commonwealth supported place, your fees are set by the Australian Government for each course. At ANU 1 EFTSL is 48 units (normally 8 x 6-unit courses). You can find your student contribution amount for each course at Fees. Where there is a unit range displayed for this course, not all unit options below may be available.
| Units | EFTSL |
|---|---|
| 6.00 | 0.12500 |
Course fees
- Domestic fee paying students
| Year | Fee |
|---|---|
| 2020 | $4320 |
- International fee paying students
| Year | Fee |
|---|---|
| 2020 | $5760 |
Offerings, Dates and Class Summary Links
ANU utilises MyTimetable to enable students to view the timetable for their enrolled courses, browse, then self-allocate to small teaching activities / tutorials so they can better plan their time. Find out more on the Timetable webpage.
Class summaries, if available, can be accessed by clicking on the View link for the relevant class number.
