The concepts of freedom, power and equality are what have been called “essentially contested concepts.” These three concepts take a particular significance in the 20th and 21st centuries due to the proliferation of war, industrialization, technology, as well as the growth of democracy and the accompanying shifts in social relations these have all brought about. We think that we have a pretty clear and straightforward understanding of what they mean—freedom means doing what I want, power is domination, equality is sameness. But when we look at how these ideals are lived in real life, we can see that they are in fact a lot more complicated than that. For instance, does poverty reduce freedom and wealth enhance it, or is really only a matter of inequality and people’s choices as many maintain? How do categories like race, gender, and sexuality affect the ways that freedom, power, and equality are experienced? Can power be exercised in relations of equality or does it always suggest inequality? How do we know when power is a hindrance to freedom, or when it is an enhancement of it? How do these three concepts intersect and intertwine to alter their meanings in different settings and in response to different sorts of events?

This course offers an introduction to ethical issues in international relations. In it, we ask whether morality, as opposed to interests, should play any role in international affairs – and if so, which morality and what rules should apply, and what we should do in response to the challenges of war, violence, poverty, and environmental destruction. The course is organized in four parts. The first part provides a general introduction to ethical theory, followed by an examination of the major schools of thought regarding the possibility or impossibility of ethical conduct in international relations. The second part of the course focuses on ethical issues concerning the use of force, and examines the ethical problems of military force in places such as Bosnia, Rwanda, Iraq, Libya, Syria, and Myanmar, as well as at the questions of international terrorism and humanitarian intervention. The third part looks at issues of human rights, global distributive justice, and the global environment. A fourth section, to be fleshed out during the term, will examine “contemporary challenges” of international ethics in the Trump era. Taken as a whole, the aim of the course is to explore and debate the great moral dilemmas of our time, allowing each student to make her or his own informed, deliberate moral choices.

This course offers an introduction to ethical issues in international relations. In it, we ask whether morality, as opposed to interests, should play any role in international affairs – and if so, which morality and what rules should apply, and what we should do in response to the challenges of war, violence, poverty, and environmental destruction. The course is organized in four parts. The first part provides a general introduction to ethical theory, followed by an examination of the major schools of thought regarding the possibility or impossibility of ethical conduct in international relations. The second part of the course focuses on ethical issues concerning the use of force, and examines the ethical problems of military force in places such as Bosnia, Rwanda, Iraq, Libya, Syria, and Myanmar, as well as at the questions of international terrorism and humanitarian intervention. The third part looks at issues of human rights, global distributive justice, and the global environment. A fourth section, to be fleshed out during the term, will examine “contemporary challenges” of international ethics in the Trump era. Taken as a whole, the aim of the course is to explore and debate the great moral dilemmas of our time, allowing each student to make her or his own informed, deliberate moral choices.

This course offers an introduction to ethical issues in international relations. In it, we ask whether morality, as opposed to interests, should play any role in international affairs – and if so, which morality and what rules should apply, and what we should do in response to the challenges of war, violence, poverty, and environmental destruction. The course is organized in four parts. The first part provides a general introduction to ethical theory, followed by an examination of the major schools of thought regarding the possibility or impossibility of ethical conduct in international relations. The second part of the course focuses on ethical issues concerning the use of force, and examines the ethical problems of military force in places such as Bosnia, Rwanda, Iraq, Libya, Syria, and Myanmar, as well as at the questions of international terrorism and humanitarian intervention. The third part looks at issues of human rights, global distributive justice, and the global environment. A fourth section, to be fleshed out during the term, will examine “contemporary challenges” of international ethics in the Trump era. Taken as a whole, the aim of the course is to explore and debate the great moral dilemmas of our time, allowing each student to make her or his own informed, deliberate moral choices.

This course offers an introduction to ethical issues in international relations. In it, we ask whether morality, as opposed to interests, should play any role in international affairs – and if so, which morality and what rules should apply, and what we should do in response to the challenges of war, violence, poverty, and environmental destruction. The course is organized in four parts. The first part provides a general introduction to ethical theory, followed by an examination of the major schools of thought regarding the possibility or impossibility of ethical conduct in international relations. The second part of the course focuses on ethical issues concerning the use of force, and examines the ethical problems of military force in places such as Bosnia, Rwanda, Iraq, Libya, Syria, and Myanmar, as well as at the questions of international terrorism and humanitarian intervention. The third part looks at issues of human rights, global distributive justice, and the global environment. A fourth section, to be fleshed out during the term, will examine “contemporary challenges” of international ethics in the Trump era. Taken as a whole, the aim of the course is to explore and debate the great moral dilemmas of our time, allowing each student to make her or his own informed, deliberate moral choices.

This course offers an introduction to ethical issues in international relations. In it, we ask whether morality, as opposed to interests, should play any role in international affairs – and if so, which morality and what rules should apply, and what we should do in response to the challenges of war, violence, poverty, and environmental destruction. The course is organized in four parts. The first part provides a general introduction to ethical theory, followed by an examination of the major schools of thought regarding the possibility or impossibility of ethical conduct in international relations. The second part of the course focuses on ethical issues concerning the use of force, and examines the ethical problems of military force in places such as Bosnia, Rwanda, Iraq, Libya, Syria, and Myanmar, as well as at the questions of international terrorism and humanitarian intervention. The third part looks at issues of human rights, global distributive justice, and the global environment. A fourth section, to be fleshed out during the term, will examine “contemporary challenges” of international ethics in the Trump era. Taken as a whole, the aim of the course is to explore and debate the great moral dilemmas of our time, allowing each student to make her or his own informed, deliberate moral choices.

This course offers an introduction to ethical issues in international relations. In it, we ask whether morality, as opposed to interests, should play any role in international affairs – and if so, which morality and what rules should apply, and what we should do in response to the challenges of war, violence, poverty, and environmental destruction. The course is organized in four parts. The first part provides a general introduction to ethical theory, followed by an examination of the major schools of thought regarding the possibility or impossibility of ethical conduct in international relations. The second part of the course focuses on ethical issues concerning the use of force, and examines the ethical problems of military force in places such as Bosnia, Rwanda, Iraq, Libya, Syria, and Myanmar, as well as at the questions of international terrorism and humanitarian intervention. The third part looks at issues of human rights, global distributive justice, and the global environment. A fourth section, to be fleshed out during the term, will examine “contemporary challenges” of international ethics in the Trump era. Taken as a whole, the aim of the course is to explore and debate the great moral dilemmas of our time, allowing each student to make her or his own informed, deliberate moral choices.

This course offers an introduction to ethical issues in international relations. In it, we ask whether morality, as opposed to interests, should play any role in international affairs – and if so, which morality and what rules should apply, and what we should do in response to the challenges of war, violence, poverty, and environmental destruction. The course is organized in four parts. The first part provides a general introduction to ethical theory, followed by an examination of the major schools of thought regarding the possibility or impossibility of ethical conduct in international relations. The second part of the course focuses on ethical issues concerning the use of force, and examines the ethical problems of military force in places such as Bosnia, Rwanda, Iraq, Libya, Syria, and Myanmar, as well as at the questions of international terrorism and humanitarian intervention. The third part looks at issues of human rights, global distributive justice, and the global environment. A fourth section, to be fleshed out during the term, will examine “contemporary challenges” of international ethics in the Trump era. Taken as a whole, the aim of the course is to explore and debate the great moral dilemmas of our time, allowing each student to make her or his own informed, deliberate moral choices.

What exactly should be considered a fundamental "human right"? What is the basis for something is a fundamental human right? This course will examine not only broad conceptual debates, but will also focus on specific issue areas (e.g., civil rights, economic rights, women's rights), as well as the question of how new rights norms emerge in international relations.

What exactly should be considered a fundamental "human right"? What is the basis for something is a fundamental human right? This course will examine not only broad conceptual debates, but will also focus on specific issue areas (e.g., civil rights, economic rights, women's rights), as well as the question of how new rights norms emerge in international relations.