The Ethics of War and Peace (PG)

Postgraduate | 2026

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Area/Catalogue
POLI 5013
Course ID icon
Course ID
207913
Level of study
Level of study
Postgraduate
Unit value icon
Unit value
12
Course level icon
Course level
5
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Inbound study abroad and exchange
Inbound study abroad and exchange
The fee you pay will depend on the number and type of courses you study.
Yes
University-wide elective icon
University-wide elective course
Yes
Single course enrollment
Single course enrolment
Yes
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Note:
Course data is interim and subject to change

Course overview

This course is concerned with the ethics of war and peace in international politics. The approach taken is theoretical and practical. Students will be introduced to the major theoretical approaches to ethical questions in international relations (i.e. realism, pacifism, and just war theory) and will be expected to evaluate their strengths and weaknesses as well as apply their logic and insights to specific cases and scenarios. The central questions the course will explore include: Can the use of force ever be justified? Is there such a thing as a just war? Can pre-emptive and preventive strikes be justified on ethical grounds? Are the tenets of the just war tradition applicable to 21st Century conflicts? Is humanitarian intervention an ethical practice or a useful instrument for powerful nations? Can terrorism be justified on ethical grounds? Should terrorists be entitled to prisoner of war status? Can torture be justified to combat terrorism? Should we pay less attention to the ethics of war and more to the ethics of peace? What should be prioritised in post-war contexts: justice or peace? (How) Should we remember the past: let's forget vs lest we forget? These and other questions will be explored through the examination of a wide range of events, both past and present, including: WWI and WWII, the terrorist attacks of 9/11, the 2003 Iraq War, the use of torture in Abu Ghraib, the killing of Osama bin Laden, the use of child soldiers in African conflicts, the 2007 cyberwar in Estonia, the 2011 military intervention in Libya, the tactics of Islamic State, the conflict in Syria, the reconstruction of Afghanistan, the tensions in the South China Sea, the nuclear standoff with North Korea, and the wars in Ukraine and Palestine. The course will also examine the ethics of emerging military and security technologies, such as drones, robots, cyborgs, and cyberweapons.

Course learning outcomes

  • understand the ethical dimension of international relations
  • Understand and apply the major theories of international ethics;
  • Identify and discuss past, present and future ethical challenges
  • Think critically about the ethical dimension of global politics
  • Conduct independent research utilising a variety of sources
  • Critically engage with relevant ethical political developments
  • Produce coherent and well substantiated ethical arguments
  • Express ideas confidently, thoughtfully and respectfully
  • Work with others in the exploration of relevant political content

Prerequisite(s)

N/A

Corequisite(s)

N/A

Antirequisite(s)

N/A