At the crossroads of scholarship and practice
The Lieber Institute at West Point facilitates and contributes to the global dialogue on today’s most pressing and complex law of war issues. Through its research, publications, events and education, it strives to advance the understanding and maintain the primacy of law in today’s armed conflicts.
The Lieber Institute seeks to bridge the divide between legal scholarship and battlefield experience in the study of the law. It engages in innovative research and collaboration on multiple topics of legal study including targeting, detention, artificial intelligence, emerging technologies and war crimes accountability.
Researching Cutting-edge Issues.
Promoting Understanding.
Empowering Combat Leaders.
The Legitimate Aims of Self-Defense
The United States' strike on Iranian-backed militias along the Syria-Iraq border on February 25 and the accompanying justifications, communications, and explanations have produced a flurry of legal discourse across the blogosphere and social media (here, here and...
President Biden’s First Use of Force and International Law
On February 25, President Biden authorized the first use of military force since becoming President. The operation involved two F-15s dropping seven 500-pound Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAM) bombs on a grouping of buildings at a Syria-Iraq border crossing....
Is the Time for Law of War Treaty Commentaries Over?
In two recent Articles of War posts, Sean Watts and Michael Meier criticized the Updated Commentary of Geneva Convention III. Rather than focusing on specific interpretations adopted or suggesting other interpretations, Michael Meier criticized the Commentary’s...
All on-site events have been cancelled through December 2020. Please check back soon for future events and programming.
Volume 5
Volume 4
