Prerequisite: None

Exam Type: No Exam

This seminar course uses the war in Ukraine as a lens to explore geopolitics, international law, and development challenges. Through an in-depth examination of the war and the range of responses to it, students will study the causes and consequences of contemporary conflict, the strengths and weaknesses of international institutions, and the challenges in securing enforcement of international law. The course explores the UN system’s and various countries’ responses to Russia’s invasion, Ukraine’s refugee flows, and their impact on other countries’ political dynamics, and on-the-ground innovations in Ukraine’s technology, energy, and agriculture sectors. Students will develop skills in international legal analysis, policy memo writing, strategic assessment, and crisis management and will prepare response papers that sharpen their ability to assess policy dilemmas and communicate solutions. By analyzing the challenges faced by Ukrainian and global actors, students will gain critical insight into the structures and tools shaping peace, justice, and stability in the modern international system.

This seminar is cross-listed with HKS as IGA-298.