By Laurie R. Blank* This is the final article in a three-part series on the Ukrainian crisis’s implications and lessons for the international law of armed conflict. You can read Part 1 and Part 2 here.  Recent events in eastern Ukraine highlight the challenges of identifying the groups involved. Pro-Russian separatists, militants, pro-Ukrainian “street fighters”, nationalists, terrorists — many terms have been used […]

Series Introduction  Following a new outbreak of violence in eastern Ukraine on Thursday, tensions in Ukraine and between Russia and the United States and NATO countries are high ahead of Ukraine’s presidential elections Sunday. Russian troops remain along Ukraine’s eastern border, notwithstanding Moscow’s promise of withdrawal. In this murky situation, however, it is crucial to rely on several foundational principles of international […]

Mitchell S. Kominsky, Counsel for the U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, discusses the state of cybersecurity legislation and the evolving nature of cyber policy. Image courtesy of Getty Images.

Corri Zoli and Emily Schneider untangle the infighting between rival groups in Syria and the calls to use Shari’a to mediate the conflicts on the battlefield. Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.

Lieutenant Joseph Hatfield discusses the merits of a “reverse draft” in bridging the growing disconnect between civilian society and the military. Photo courtesy of Wikimedia

Professor Louis René Beres brings to bear two classical traditions to apply them to Israeli strategic planning. In this article, he takes a fresh look at Sun-Tzu’s The Art of War and weaves in Greek dialectical reasoning. Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.

Harvard Law Student Menno Goedman discusses critiques of the FISC appointment process in light of the increased public scrutiny of American intelligence operations. Photo courtesy of Wikimedia

Professor Louis René Beres considers Israeli actions in response to threats emanating from Syria, Lebanon, and Iran in the contexts of weapons transfers, missile attacks, and an increasingly volatile situation in Syria. Map courtesy of Google Maps.

University of Virginia Law Professor Frederick Hitz discusses his theories regarding what he terms the “relentless non-humanity” of drone warfare. Photo courtesy of Getty Images

Dear HLS 1Ls, We at the Harvard National Security Journal (“NSJ”) welcome you to Harvard Law and invite you to get involved in our milestone fifth volume.  At NSJ, you will learn about editing, join an interesting community, and develop your resume.  Right away, you will have the opportunity to take on significant — and substantive — responsibilities. NSJ publishes […]