Course Syllabus

 

International Humanitarian Law and Armed Conflict.

 

Semester & Location:	Spring 2026 - DIS Copenhagen
Type & Credits:	Core course - 3 credits
Study Tours:	Geneva, Switzerland & Charmonix, France
Major Disciplines:	International Relations, Political Science, Pre-Law, Legal Studies
Expectations of the students:	Students must expect the course to focus on international law, introducing basic legal methods and key sources of law. The course revolves around International Humanitarian Law (IHL) and is complemented by International Human Rights Law and International Criminal Law, which are essential for fully benefiting from the course. Students are expected to combine legal perspectives with International Relations (IR) perspectives from states, IOs, and NGOs.
Faculty Members:	Dorthe Bach Nyemann & Steen Kjærgaard Current students use Canvas Inbox to contact us
Time & Place:	Tuesdays. 2.50 - 5.45 PM. F24 - 503

 

Course Description

The armed conflicts in Ukraine, following the Russian aggression on Ukraine in February 2022, and the fighting in Gaza have set in motion the long-lasting debate on the constraints of international law to promote humanity and to restrain brutality on the battlefield when states and non-state actors are fighting existential struggles.

This course provides students with tools to analyse international humanitarian regulation of armed conflict in the context of international law.  The course aims to enable students to understand the legal challenges posed by current and future armed conflicts and to critically analyse and evaluate concrete cases from legal, societal, and political perspectives. Furthermore, the course seeks to widen the scope of actors and protections in contemporary conflict to critically assess potentials and challenges for enhancing compliance towards humanity - potentially beyond a purely legalistic approach. This is achieved by applying knowledge from readings, academic presentations, and class debates, including simulations.

The course is composed of three sections.

In the first section 'The fundamentals of IHL', we introduce the academic field of international law and provide the student with an overview of international law related to armed conflict (jus as Bellum) and international humanitarian law (jus in Bello), e.g. the sources of law, conflict classification, the basic legal principles and a broad overview of the essential rules regulating armed conflict. 

In section two, 'Contemporary IHL issues and agency of International Organizations', we explore contemporary challenges in IHL and engage students in the analysis of issues such as diminishing compliance, modern technology and methods of warfare, and the interplay with European Human Rights Law (IHRL). We explore the interplay among states, IOs, and NGOs in safeguarding, adapting, and enforcing IHL during armed conflicts and in peacetime.

In section three, 'Future challenges and opportunities for IHL', we examine how today's geopolitics and the rapid technological revolution in warfare shape the future of IHL, thereby nurturing deeper insight and fostering critical thinking and individual reflection among IHL students. 

Learning Objectives

Through selected readings, class discussions, study tours, and various assignments, the objectives of this course are for the students to:

• Understand the philosophical and historical roots of International Humanitarian Law, including the humanitarian movement in Europe since 1859.
• Understand and apply the general principles, sources and fundamental rules of International Humanitarian Law.
• Apply the rules of International Humanitarian Law to concrete cases with a special focus on the current armed conflict in Ukraine.
• Understand the interplay between humanitarian law, human rights law, and international criminal law.
• Analyze and discuss the challenges related to regulating the usage of modern technology in armed conflicts, e.g.  artificial intelligence, autonomous weapons, unmanned aerial vehicles (drones), affecting the implementation of obligations under international law;
• Identify and discuss the main issues related to enhancing compliance with International Humanitarian Law, including the means and methods of warfare, and the roles of international and non-governmental organisations.
• Be able to critically apply gained knowledge to the debate on the role, challenges and possibilities of International Humanitarian Law (IHL) as a top-tier protective regime for individuals and objects during armed conflicts of today and tomorrow.

 

Faculty

Dorthe Bach Nyemann

Master's in Politics and History from the University of Copenhagen, 2000. Diploma in International Law studies, from the Master International Security and Law from the University of Southern Denmark in 2015. Areas of expertise include International Law, international relations, hybrid warfare studies, and Western Balkans area studies. Engaged in international working groups related to the topics of my research. With DIS since 2021.

Steen Kjærgaard

Master of Arts in International Security from the University of Leicester (UK), 2018.  Military Academy Bachelor's 1996. Joint Command and Staff College (MA) 2010.  Lecturer at the International Institute of Humanitarian Law, San Remo, Italy (2010-2016).  Steen has been deployed to conflict zones and has been involved in an IHL capacity-building program in Indonesia with the Norwegian Centre for Human Rights (2013-2016). With DIS since 2018.

Assignments

The student must produce two minor assignments and a final essay during the course, of which one is a group assignment. 

Furthermore, and highly important to the success of this course, the student must actively engage and participate with a positive attitude. This includes preparation for class and active participation in class discussions grounded in facts, law, analysis, and reflection.

Please refer to the assignment tab for instructional details.

Weight:

Activity	Weight	Remark
Assignments during course	40%	Individual video Podcast 7 minutes Group assignment
Final Essay	40%	2000 words excl. bibliography
Participation in class	20%

Readings for class

• Emily Crawford and Alison Pert, International Humanitarian Law, 2. nd. Cambridge University Press, 2021 [textbook].
• Find specific readings for each class under sections.

Note: Some of the readings might be subject to change during the course, but students will receive any new readings in due time to prepare for class.

Approach to Teaching

This course will combine lectures and a discussion-based course using case studies and group work. The teaching will facilitate a reflective learning process and provide critical, constructive feedback to sharpen students' analytical skills and academic methodology.

Faculty strive to apply modern pedagogical methods, such as the flipped classroom model.

Guest lecturers will be used.

Expectations of the Students

The course is partly discussion-based and includes case studies, so a high degree of student participation, preparation, and engagement is required. Throughout the course, you will also have to develop and practice your critical thinking by analysing texts, concepts, and specific cases to understand the complexity of the field of international law.

Download the ICRC IHL app. We will use this throughout the course as the best source for an overview of IHL.  

Study Tours

Study tours are an integral part of the core course, as we take the classroom into the field to observe how the theory presented in the classroom is translated into practice.

You will travel with your classmates and DIS faculty/staff on a study tour to Jutland, Geneva, Switzerland and Chamonix, France. 

During the short study tour and throughout the core course week, we will explore the impact of antipersonnel landmines on civilians during and after an armed conflict. We will examine the general regulation of the means and methods of warfare and delve into the specifics of landmines. We will visit the coast of Jutland to investigate the role of landmines during the Second World War, the cleanup over the decades, and how demining is conducted worldwide today, including in Ukraine.

During the long study tour, we will travel to Geneva, Switzerland.  The overarching theme of the tour is to explore perspectives on Geneva's unique role as an international hub for humanity, including international organisations, peace processes, and, not least, International Humanitarian Law. In Geneva, we will visit the International Committee of the Red Cross and the Red Crescent and follow the humanitarian trail of the Red Cross. We will primarily focus on the ICRC's special status as the proponent of IHL and its efforts to enhance compliance with it. We will visit various international organisations to examine the prospects for humanitarian mediation. We will enjoy the unique culture of the Alps. 

 Expectations for study tours:

• Participate in all activities.
• Engage in discussions, ask questions, and contribute to achieving the learning objectives.
• Respect the destination, the speakers, the DIS staff, and classmates.
• Represent yourself, your home university, and DIS in a positive light.

While on a program study tour, DIS will provide hostel/hotel accommodation and transportation to/from the destination(s), approximately two meals per day, and entrances, guides, and visits relevant to your study area or destination. You will receive a more detailed itinerary before departure.

Travel policies:

You are required to travel with your group to the destination. If you must deviate from the group travel plans, you must obtain approval from the program director and the study tours office.