Perpetual War and International Law: Enduring Legacies of the War on Terror (Just Security)

Nearly a quarter century after the September 11, 2001 attacks, the U.S.-led war on terror remains a defining force shaping international law, human rights, and global security.While major combat operations in Afghanistan and Iraq have formally ended, the long-anticipated shift from a war paradigm to a law enforcement approach has yet to materialize.Instead, U.S. and allied counterterrorism activities persist worldwide, raising urgent questions about the role of law in enabling and sustaining armed conflict.Perpetual War and International Law brings together leading experts to confront the enduring legacies of the post-9/11 era and explore viable alternatives to the use of force.The volume traces how legal and policy frameworks have served to legitimize military action, eroding the boundary between war and peace.Contributors challenge prevailing interpretations of international law in an age of endless war and unconventional threats.Drawing on insights from law, ethics, and security stu