Whither War; Whither the Law of War - Professor Sir Geoffrey Nice KC

Sir Geoffrey Nice KC delivers a compelling and authoritative lecture on the state of international humanitarian law, drawing on his extensive experience as a prosecutor at the ICTY and his involvement in various international tribunals. The lecture is well-structured, moving from historical foundations to contemporary challenges, and is enriched with personal anecdotes and legal insights. The argumentation is solid, though it reflects the perspective of an advocate for international justice, which may color the presentation of certain issues. The sources cited are primarily legal instruments and historical events, which are appropriate for the topic. The lecture does not shy away from controversial topics, such as the Uyghur Tribunal and the ICC’s handling of the Israel-Gaza situation, and it offers a critical view of state sovereignty as a barrier to justice. The title accurately reflects the content, and the lecture is accessible to a general audience while maintaining technical depth. The inclusion of a Q&A session (not provided) would likely enhance the discussion. Overall, this is a high-quality, thought-provoking lecture that underscores the urgent need for reform in international law.

The title accurately reflects the content, which explores the evolution and current state of the law of war, with a focus on genocide and the challenges of enforcement.

8/10

The lecture is delivered by a highly experienced international criminal lawyer, Sir Geoffrey Nice KC, who led the prosecution of Slobodan Milošević. He draws on historical documents, legal conventions, and his own professional experience. The content is well-structured and referenced to specific legal instruments and cases, though it is an opinion-based lecture rather than a peer-reviewed study.

• 00:00// Host intro: Sir Geoffrey Nice & tonight’s topic
• 04:30// Setting the agenda — law, war & a “miscellany”
• 06:14// Birth of IHL: Red Cross, Geneva & Hague Conventions
• 07:51// The Armenian genocide: what happened & why it matters
• 10:14// Morgenthau vs. Lansing: sovereignty over lives
• 12:10// How “sovereignty” enabled inaction in WWI
• 13:20// Tehlirian’s Berlin trial — justice & its ripple effect
• 13:38// Lemkin’s spark: from philology to “genocide”
• 14:52// Coining “genocide” & the Nuremberg gap
• 16:21// Justice Jackson’s stance: atrocities tied to aggressive war
• 19:59// From Nuremberg to the Genocide Convention: a duty to act
• 20:44// Ad hoc tribunals to the ICC (2002)
• 22:11// Big powers & the ICC: Trump’s 2018 rejection
• 26:03// What the Genocide Convention actually requires (prevent & punish now)
• 29:06// No judge needed first — why delay kills
• 30:20// Rwanda 1994: avoiding the “G-word”
• 33:06// UK export case & the “no intent found” problem
• 36:00// Reasons for hope: convictions & legal innovations (Lubanga, Ongwen, Myanmar)
• 38:16// A missed chance: ICC probe on Israel–Gaza (2014–21)
• 43:09// People’s tribunals: Iran Tribunal lessons
• 47:19// China Tribunal → Uyghur Tribunal: findings & one form of genocide
• 53:27// How civil findings drive real-world change
• 55:10// Will humanitarian law endure?
• 59:03// Ben Ferencz & the takeaway: “Never give up”

• Gresham College — Official website of the institution hosting the lecture.
• Support Gresham College — Page for supporting the college's educational activities.
• Whither War; Whither the Law of War - Lecture Page — Dedicated page for this lecture, likely containing additional resources.
• Q&A Session — Link to the question and answer session following the lecture.

• Genocide Convention — The lecture discusses the Genocide Convention's requirements and its application, aligning with the official UN resource.
• International Criminal Court — The lecture references the ICC's establishment and cases, consistent with the court's official information.

• No discordant sources identified — The lecture's claims are based on established legal history and the speaker's professional experience; no conflicting sources were mentioned.