International Law and the Threat of Force

International Law and the Threat of Force

 All Members shall refrain in their international relations from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state, or in any other manner inconsistent with the Purposes of the United Nations. – Charter of the United Nations, Article 2 Section 4
Advances in the development of WMD programs in the international system have led to a number of recommendations for action among the global community. While the legal dimensions of the use of force have been widely discussed, the rules governing threat to use force have received comparably little attention, even though today, such threats are being made against Iran’s nuclear program. When weighing the options, what are the rules governing the threat to use force in the international system?
Experts in the field of international law, global security, and nonproliferation were assembled to discuss the legal and policy issues concerning the threat of force in the international system. Panelists included:

Dr. Catherine Lotrionte - Moderator
Associate Director, Institute for Law, Science, and Global Security
Georgetown University
Dr. Anthony Arend
Director, Master of Science in Foreign Service Program
Georgetown University
Mr. Orde Kittrie
Professor of Law, Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law
Arizona State University
Mr. Leonard Spector
Director, James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies Washington DC Office
Monterey Institute for International Studies