Workshop ‘Just War Theory’

Just War Theory has evolved over the course of several centuries as a response to the seeming contradiction between ethical and moral opposition in both religious and secular moral traditions against killing, and the apparent necessity to use violence historically to prevent evils. It has received some renewed interest as international legal frameworks have evolved both to prevent violent conflict, and serve as guidelines for appropriate, international responses to injustice that might require armed interventions.
Two prominent theorists in the domain will kick off this multi-day workshop. David Luban and Larry May have each contributed to the modern debate and will present public lectures as part of the workshop. The workshop itself involves participants from various fields, all of whom have been involved in research and debate regarding just war, including topics relevant to the current geopolitical climate. Among the issues to be discussed are the right or duty of intervention, and the right or duty to revolt.

24th of September – Introduction and Symposium
13:00 to 13:45 - Opening Session, Introduction to the workshop (aims)
13:45 to 14:00 - Coffee & Tea (provided)
14:00 to 16:00 - Session 1, The right or necessity to intervene

Public Symposium

	Speakers	Commentators
16:00 – 16:30	Coffee
16:30 – 17:00	Introduction to the workshop	Introduction to the aim and goal of the workshop to the new guests and general introduction to (the work of) May and Luban.
16:30 – 17:00	Introduction to the workshop	Introduction to the aim and goal of the workshop to the new guests and general introduction to (the work of) May and Luban.
17:00 – 17:45	1. Larry May (US)	1. Mark Drumbl (US)
17:45 – 18:30	2. David Luban (US)	2. TBD
18:30 – 19:00	Closing of the symposium	Reflecting on the agenda and the aim of the workshop the following two days.

Sat. 24th of September – Introduction and Symposium
13:00 - 13:45 Opening Session, Introduction to the workshop (aims)
13:45 - 14:00 Coffee & Tea (provided)
14:00 - 16:00 Session 1: The right or necessity to intervene
16.00 - 19.00 Public symposium (see program above)

Sun. 25th of September – Workshop Day 1
9:00 - 11:00 Session 2: Just War Theory in general
11:00 - 11:15 Coffee & Tea (provided)
11:15 - 13:15 Session 3: Just War Theory
13:15 - 14:15 Lunch Break
14:15 - 16:15 Session 4: Jus Post Bellum – The judicial intervention
19:00 Dinner - only for speakers and invited guests

Mon. 26th of September – Workshop Day 2
9:00 to 11:00 Session 5: The Origins of Conflict
11:00 - 11:15 Coffee & Tea (provided)
11:15 - 13:15 Session 6: The Obligation to Protect
13:15 - 14:15 Lunch Break
14:15 - 16:15 Session 7: The right or necessity to intervene
16:15 - 17:00 Closing Session

David Luban (US)
David Luban is University Professor and Professor of Law and Philosophy, and the Acting Director of the Center on National Security and the Law. In addition to legal ethics and philosophy, his recent scholarship concerns international criminal law, just war theory, human rights, and the US torture debate. Luban has published more than 150 articles; his books have been translated into Chinese and Japanese. They include Lawyers and Justice (1988), Legal Modernism (1993), Legal Ethics and Human Dignity (2007) and, most recently, International and Transnational Criminal Law (2010) (with Julie O’Sullivan and David P. Stewart).

Larry May (US)
Larry May is currently W. Alton Jones Professor of Philosophy and Professor of Law at Vanderbilt University, in Nashville, Tennessee (USA). Larry May is a philosopher who has worked on conceptual issues in collective and shared responsibility, as well as normative issues in international criminal law. He has also worked in professional ethics and the Just War tradition. He has authored and edited dozens of books, including War Crimes and Just War (2007) and most recently, Genocide: A Normative Account (2010), as well as numerous scholarly articles.

The public keynote lectures will be free and open to the public, while the workshop sessions, which have limited seats available, and will require registration. To apply for the workshop please fill out a registration form.

Location of the workshop (Sept. 24-26^th 2011):

Bel Air Hotel Den Haag Johan de Wittlaan 30 2517 JR, DEN HAAG

E: T: +31(0)70-3525354 www.belairhotel.nl

How to get there: tram 17 from The Hague Central Train Sation in the direction of “Statenkwartier” (stop: “Gemeentemuseum / Museon").


Map of location in The Hague



Grotere kaart weergevenFor a downloadable city map (PDF, 4.7 MB) offering an overview of the city including a street finder, listings of main attractions, embassies and much more: click here.

This workshop is organized by David Koepsell and Jeroen van den Hoven.