https://studiegids.vu.nl/en/courses/2024-2025/R_TAWCSUpon completion of the course, the student shouldunderstand the nature and dynamics of armed conflict throughouthistory, including o colonialism and war o war as a state policy in the 19th century o so-called “new wars” since the end of the Cold War understand the main theories and approaches to war and armed conflict,including o just war thinking o realism o collective security o new war theory understand key concepts in international conflict and security law,including o ius ad bellum and ius in bello o lawfare o self-defense o intervention understand the interaction between law and politics in internationalsecurity apply the acquired theoretical and legal knowledge and insights to concrete issues and problems in the field of international security, such aso peacekeeping o the privatization of armed force o the protection of civilians o technologization of warfare o terrorism critically discuss theories and approaches in light of these issuesand problems independently produce legal and political arguments in the area ofinternational security in both written and oral form.The course studies the evolution of war and collective security from the perspectives of international law and international politics. The course introduces students to legal and political theories of international security and discusses the interplay between law and politics in this field.The course will make use of online tools but will be taught in interactive seminars on campus.Student presentation and paper assignments.Christine Gray, International Law and the Use of Force, fourthedition, Oxford University Press 2018 (please note: we only use alimited number of chapters from this book and it is online available inthe library).-Additional literature (either available electronically via VU libraryor to be handed out and/or posted on Canvas).NB: the literature may be subject to change!This course is only open to students of the programme Law and Politics of International Security.The course is open for students enrolled in the Master programme Law and Politics of International Security.Students are advised to make sure that enrollment for this course in Canvas is completed before the beginning of the academic year, as any decisions and instructions related to the mode of teaching will be communicated via Canvas.