Law and Ethics presents advances and challenges in international law and frames ethical debates in international affairs. Philosophers, ethicists, law practitioners, advocates and scholars from around the world tackle some of the most challenging international dilemmas of our day. Law and Ethics gives Journal readers a look at issues ranging from the recruitment of young soldiers in violent conflicts to the extradition of heads of state accused of war crimes and the ethical questions surrounding economic development in the world's poorest areas.

Reconsidering Battlefield Contractors

By Doug Brooks and Jim Shevlin

Private firms play an indispensable role in supporting peace and stability operations from Congo to Iraq, but sensationalization and misinformation of "battlespace contractors" has unfortunately skewed public perceptions and is having an adverse impact on policy formulation. Despite frequent claims that private firms are unprecedented, unregulated, inherently unethical and even a threat to American democracy, the private sector actually has a long history supporting U.S. military operations, is regulated by numerous domestic and international laws and statutes, plays a central role in operations critical to speedy state recovery, infrastructure reconstruction and humanitarian security, and is critical to implementing policies of democratic governments and the international community. more...