Conflict, law, and the global economy: Ethical and legal dimensions of the Iran war and Its spillover effects

The ongoing conflict involving Iran marks a critical juncture for international security, normative regimes, and the global economy. Beyond immediate humanitarian and geopolitical concerns, the war’s regional spillover threatens systemic economic instability - fueling inflationary pressures, trade route disruptions, energy price volatility, and supply chain fragility worldwide. 

This expert webinar is organised by the Ethics and World Politics Working Group. It convenes two leading political theory, international law and justice scholars to examine the multidimensional consequences of the war. Through the analytical lenses of International Law, Global Justice, Human Rights and the Just War Tradition, the panel will delve into the legal justifications, ethical obligations, and economic ramifications reshaping regional and global orders.

Key discussion themes 

• Legal jurisprudence and jus ad bellum/jus in bello: Assessing force, state sovereignty, and international humanitarian law compliance under current international legal frameworks. 
• Global hustice and economic vulnerability: Examining the ethical implications of economic spillover - such as inflation spikes, food/energy security risks, and market instability - on vulnerable populations globally. 
• Just war tradition in modern conflict: Re-evaluating proportionality, double effect, and long-term peace negotiation and reconstruction efforts (jus post bellum) amidst non-linear, multi-arena hostilities. 
• Systemic spillover and global governance: Navigating the erosion of post-war multilateral mechanisms and the rise of pragmatic, cross-issue alliances in a post-liberal multipolar landscape.

Questions

• The law and ethics of asymmetric and gray-zone warfare: How does the systematic arming, funding, and operational integration of non-state actors (e.g., Hezbollah, Hamas, the Houthis) by a sovereign state challenge the foundational paradigms of International Humanitarian Law (𝑗𝑢𝑠 𝑖𝑛 𝑏𝑒𝑙𝑙𝑜), State Responsibility, and Just War Theory? 
• Sovereignty, statehood, and existential rights: In light of global constitutionalist principles and international law, how should international community reconcile the nonderogable right of a sovereign state (Israel) to exist and defend itself against explicit existential threats in the form of state terror with the obligation to uphold jus cogens human rights standards and prevent severe civilian harm?

Speakers

• Professor George Andreopoulos, CUNY
• John Jay College of Criminal Justice, NY, US 
• Professor Anthony Lang, St Andrews University, UK

Moderator

• Dr Moises Vieira, Manchester University, UK 

Discussant

• PD Dr habil. Miao-ling Hasenkamp, University Rostock, Germany.

Registration will close two hours before the event begins.