Recent events on the world stage, along with Canada's somewhat ambivalent attitude toward its own role in armed intervention have sparked renewed interest in the legality of specific wars and in the ethics of warfare generally. This course considers whether there is any defensible basis for applying legal and ethical standards to armed conflict among and within nations. (3.0 Credits)
Prerequisite(s)
BCIT ENGL 1177, or 6 credits BCIT Communication at 1100-level or above, or 3 credits of university/college composition.
This course isn't currently offered. Please check back next term or contact the appropriate Program Assistant [PDF] to determine when this course will be offered again.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:
Apply cross-disciplinary methods and concepts in course assignments and discussions.
Critically read and assess material from disciplines, genres, and eras other than those normally encountered in his/her BCIT technology program.
Compare traditional and contemporary approaches to past and current controversies presented in the course.
Produce paragraph-based, essay-based and/or oral presentations that evaluate aspects of the course material.
Produce written and oral arguments that demonstrate skills in critical thinking, reading, and writing.
Apply course concepts and skills to his/her intellectual, civic and professional life outside the classroom.
Explain the principled differences between pacifism, realism and just war theory.
Assess the merit of the realist critique of pacifism.
Assess the merit of the realist critique of just war theory.
Judge the effectiveness of the replies to the realist challenge.
Assess the pacifist critique of just war theory.
Judge the effectiveness of the replies to the pacifist critique of just war theory.
Explain the nature of just cause, with respect to jus ad bellum.
Judge the proper scope of concepts such as right intention, proper authority, last resort and proportionality, with respect to jus ad bellum.
Explain the nature of jus in bello, in both its internal and external forms.
Explain the principle of non-combatant immunity.
Explain the proportionality rule, with respect to jus in bello.
Interpret and apply rules of jus in bello to cases of historical significance.
Explain the nature of jus post bellum, with reference to peace settlements, rights restoration, rehabilitation, restitution and punishment for war crimes.
Apply the rules of jus post bellum to the current occupation of Iraq.
Assess the status of the International Court of Justice at the Hague, in terms of legitimacy and efficacy.
Establish the priority among principles and laws when these are seen to conflict in particular cases.
Employ three modes of judicial reasoning: reasoning from interpretive guidelines, reasoning from prior cases, reasoning from principle.
Classroom locations are subject to last minute changes. Please check the Part-time Studies Classroom Locations listing at www.bcit.ca/rooms on the first day of any course you are registered for.