International Affairs Symposium

April 6 - 8, 2009

A World of Warfare: Dynamics of Conflict in the 21st Century

April 6 - 8, 2009

2009 IA Symposium Brochure

2009 Program

Market Forces: Private Firms for Public Wars

Speakers: Andy Bearpark and Erica Razook

States are increasingly utilizing private military companies as a supplement to or substitute for their own armed forces. Advocates of private military companies argue that they provide a valuable service to states, while critics question whether their existence is necessary or even legitimate.

The Wars to Come: Preparing for Tomorrow’s Conflicts

Speakers: Gian Gentile and Anthony Zinni

The world is changing and so is war, making it necessary for states to adopt appropriate methods of fighting. Some say that traditional methods of combat will be inapplicable to future conflict. Others hold that these fundamental techniques ought not to be abandoned so quickly.

Rules of Engagement: Should International Law Apply to War?

Speakers: Geoffrey Corn and Jeremy Rabkin

Applying the ideals of international law to the realities of international politics is always difficult. Nowhere is this tension more readily apparent than in war, where history is written by the victor, and power flows from the barrel of a gun. How should states resolve this dilemma?

Black and White and Read All Over: Embedding Journalists with Modern Warriors

Speakers: Phillip Knightley and Thomas Ricks

In recent years it has become increasingly common for reporters to be "embedded" with militaries. Some laud this as a victory for openness while others question the wisdom of the practice. Can journalists ever provide too much information? And who should be responsible for their protection?

Jumping the Gun: The Legitimacy of Preemptive War

Speakers: Whitley Kaufman and Rodger Payne

The application of offensive war as a defensive measure raises debate over the legality and legitimacy of such campaigns. While purely defensive warfare is often accepted as legitimate, there is broad disagreement over the line between aggression and self defense. If a state perceives a security threat, does it have to right to launch a preventive attack?

Wired for War: Technological Innovation on the Battlefield

Speakers: Stan Coerr and Steven Metz

From slings and stones to bullets and bombs, a technological edge in war has forever fueled human innovation. Some speculate that the nature of war is being transformed, decreasing the likelihood and human cost of war. While this possibility has naturally generated interest in technological progress, others argue that efforts to reduce the human costs of war are futile.

The Lewis & Clark College International Affairs Symposium is one of the prestigious events within the Oregon academic and civic communities. It has been highly acclaimed by the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, and Chronicle of Higher Education. It is also the oldest student-run symposium in the United States. Organized by students, it concentrates on themes that reflect global interests and concerns.

The focus of the Symposium is controversy, emphasizing confrontation of opposing views. Organized by students, it concentrates on themes that reflect global interests and concerns.

For more information about this year's Symposium, please contact Amy Timmins, Administrative Coordinator, at timmins@lclark.edu.