Oona Hathaway
@oonahathaway.bsky.social
Professor at Yale Law School & Professor of Political Science at Yale University; Executive Editor at Just Security; president-elect, American Society of International Law; former Special Counsel at U.S. Department of Defense
Had so much fun recording this podcast with Philippa Webb, Marko Milanovic & Nicolas Angelet. We discuss the legality of the US strikes on suspected drug boats and the UNRWA advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice. Take a listen!
www.ejiltalk.org/ejil-the-pod...
www.ejiltalk.org/ejil-the-pod...
November 17, 2025 at 12:34 PM
Had so much fun recording this podcast with Philippa Webb, Marko Milanovic & Nicolas Angelet. We discuss the legality of the US strikes on suspected drug boats and the UNRWA advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice. Take a listen!
www.ejiltalk.org/ejil-the-pod...
www.ejiltalk.org/ejil-the-pod...
If you are in London on November 5, consider joining me for this conference on "The U.S. & International Law in a Changing World."
Register for free here: www.eventbrite.com/e/the-us-and...
Register for free here: www.eventbrite.com/e/the-us-and...
October 30, 2025 at 8:57 PM
If you are in London on November 5, consider joining me for this conference on "The U.S. & International Law in a Changing World."
Register for free here: www.eventbrite.com/e/the-us-and...
Register for free here: www.eventbrite.com/e/the-us-and...
If you are in Berlin, please join me for my talk, "War Unbound," on Monday evening at the Freie Universität Berlin! Details here:
www.jura.fu-berlin.de/fachbereich/...
www.jura.fu-berlin.de/fachbereich/...
October 24, 2025 at 7:40 AM
If you are in Berlin, please join me for my talk, "War Unbound," on Monday evening at the Freie Universität Berlin! Details here:
www.jura.fu-berlin.de/fachbereich/...
www.jura.fu-berlin.de/fachbereich/...
Glad to talk with Claudia Grisales for this @npr.org story on the Venezuelan boat strike and Congress's failure to play any meaningful role.
www.npr.org/2025/09/14/n....
www.npr.org/2025/09/14/n....
September 15, 2025 at 8:05 PM
Glad to talk with Claudia Grisales for this @npr.org story on the Venezuelan boat strike and Congress's failure to play any meaningful role.
www.npr.org/2025/09/14/n....
www.npr.org/2025/09/14/n....
In recent days, the EU announced that it is considering creative new ways to use Russia's frozen central bank assets to support Ukraine. Russia is threatening retaliation.
For a deep dive into the legal issues involved, take a look at our recent article:
papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
For a deep dive into the legal issues involved, take a look at our recent article:
papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
September 15, 2025 at 10:50 AM
In recent days, the EU announced that it is considering creative new ways to use Russia's frozen central bank assets to support Ukraine. Russia is threatening retaliation.
For a deep dive into the legal issues involved, take a look at our recent article:
papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
For a deep dive into the legal issues involved, take a look at our recent article:
papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
Anti-satellite weapons are proliferating and now include the prospect of a nuclear-armed satellite capable of wiping out our entire communications infrastructure.
We tackle the many hard legal issues this new reality raises @nyulawreview.bsky.social.
papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
We tackle the many hard legal issues this new reality raises @nyulawreview.bsky.social.
papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
September 15, 2025 at 6:31 AM
Anti-satellite weapons are proliferating and now include the prospect of a nuclear-armed satellite capable of wiping out our entire communications infrastructure.
We tackle the many hard legal issues this new reality raises @nyulawreview.bsky.social.
papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
We tackle the many hard legal issues this new reality raises @nyulawreview.bsky.social.
papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
Bolton is not the most sympathetic figure, but the investigation of him is a product of a system of mass over-classification that creates opportunities for selective prosecution and undermines U.S. national security.
I explain this and more in "Secrecy's End":
papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
I explain this and more in "Secrecy's End":
papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
August 23, 2025 at 11:34 AM
Bolton is not the most sympathetic figure, but the investigation of him is a product of a system of mass over-classification that creates opportunities for selective prosecution and undermines U.S. national security.
I explain this and more in "Secrecy's End":
papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
I explain this and more in "Secrecy's End":
papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
The International Court of Justice has issued a blockbuster advisory opinion on climate change (journal.un.org/en/the-hague...).
How can this opinion be enforced? This article offers some answers:
"The World Court's Enforcement Dilemma--And How to Solve It"
papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
How can this opinion be enforced? This article offers some answers:
"The World Court's Enforcement Dilemma--And How to Solve It"
papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
July 23, 2025 at 2:23 PM
The International Court of Justice has issued a blockbuster advisory opinion on climate change (journal.un.org/en/the-hague...).
How can this opinion be enforced? This article offers some answers:
"The World Court's Enforcement Dilemma--And How to Solve It"
papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
How can this opinion be enforced? This article offers some answers:
"The World Court's Enforcement Dilemma--And How to Solve It"
papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
We also have some great dynamic data visualizations (with links to the full dataset on Dataverse)!
Check them out here:
dualuse.law.yale.edu
Check them out here:
dualuse.law.yale.edu
June 30, 2025 at 12:04 PM
We also have some great dynamic data visualizations (with links to the full dataset on Dataverse)!
Check them out here:
dualuse.law.yale.edu
Check them out here:
dualuse.law.yale.edu
It's out!
The Dangerous Rise of "Dual-Use" Objects in War
Coauthored with @mararevkin.bsky.social and @azmatzahra.bsky.social.
We show that the targeting of dual-use objects over the last several decades has placed civilians at great risk.
papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
The Dangerous Rise of "Dual-Use" Objects in War
Coauthored with @mararevkin.bsky.social and @azmatzahra.bsky.social.
We show that the targeting of dual-use objects over the last several decades has placed civilians at great risk.
papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
June 30, 2025 at 12:04 PM
It's out!
The Dangerous Rise of "Dual-Use" Objects in War
Coauthored with @mararevkin.bsky.social and @azmatzahra.bsky.social.
We show that the targeting of dual-use objects over the last several decades has placed civilians at great risk.
papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
The Dangerous Rise of "Dual-Use" Objects in War
Coauthored with @mararevkin.bsky.social and @azmatzahra.bsky.social.
We show that the targeting of dual-use objects over the last several decades has placed civilians at great risk.
papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
Frustrated by the UN Security Council's failure to act? Unfortunately formal amendments to the UN Charter can be vetoed by the same states that are vetoing effective responses to global crises. But here are some ideas for reforming the UN that can't be vetoed:
download.ssrn.com/2025/1/16/48...
download.ssrn.com/2025/1/16/48...
June 27, 2025 at 3:31 PM
Frustrated by the UN Security Council's failure to act? Unfortunately formal amendments to the UN Charter can be vetoed by the same states that are vetoing effective responses to global crises. But here are some ideas for reforming the UN that can't be vetoed:
download.ssrn.com/2025/1/16/48...
download.ssrn.com/2025/1/16/48...
Here, @scottjshapiro.bsky.social and I consider the collapse of the prohibition on the use of force and the likely consequences: a global arms race, wars of conquest, shrinking trade, and the end of global cooperation. We chart another potential path, but it would require courage and quick action.
June 24, 2025 at 9:01 PM
Here, @scottjshapiro.bsky.social and I consider the collapse of the prohibition on the use of force and the likely consequences: a global arms race, wars of conquest, shrinking trade, and the end of global cooperation. We chart another potential path, but it would require courage and quick action.
The US-Ukraine minerals agreement will be submitted to Ukraine's parliament for ratification. Will our government do the same? If not, what's the legal authority under which it is being concluded?
April 30, 2025 at 10:09 PM
The US-Ukraine minerals agreement will be submitted to Ukraine's parliament for ratification. Will our government do the same? If not, what's the legal authority under which it is being concluded?
@azmatzahra.bsky.social and I discuss our article, "Mistakes" in War, in this podcast. In the article, we ask: Under international humanitarian law, intentionally killing a civilian is a war crime, but is killing a civilian by mistake ever a crime?
Take a listen:
open.spotify.com/episode/2PD3...
Take a listen:
open.spotify.com/episode/2PD3...
April 5, 2025 at 1:14 AM
@azmatzahra.bsky.social and I discuss our article, "Mistakes" in War, in this podcast. In the article, we ask: Under international humanitarian law, intentionally killing a civilian is a war crime, but is killing a civilian by mistake ever a crime?
Take a listen:
open.spotify.com/episode/2PD3...
Take a listen:
open.spotify.com/episode/2PD3...
War is changing. Through smartphones and the internet, civilians can contribute to war fighting from the conflict zone or from the other side of the globe.
“Crowdsourced War" describes this revolution and its dangers for civilians.
Forthcoming in NYU Law Review.
papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
“Crowdsourced War" describes this revolution and its dangers for civilians.
Forthcoming in NYU Law Review.
papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
March 30, 2025 at 7:01 PM
War is changing. Through smartphones and the internet, civilians can contribute to war fighting from the conflict zone or from the other side of the globe.
“Crowdsourced War" describes this revolution and its dangers for civilians.
Forthcoming in NYU Law Review.
papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
“Crowdsourced War" describes this revolution and its dangers for civilians.
Forthcoming in NYU Law Review.
papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
Now out!
"Crisis and Change at the United Nations: Non-Amendment Reform and Institutional Evolution"
The Security Council's repeated failure to act has led to calls for reform, but Charter amendments are nearly impossible. We argue there's another path.
Read more: papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
"Crisis and Change at the United Nations: Non-Amendment Reform and Institutional Evolution"
The Security Council's repeated failure to act has led to calls for reform, but Charter amendments are nearly impossible. We argue there's another path.
Read more: papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
January 16, 2025 at 9:00 PM
Now out!
"Crisis and Change at the United Nations: Non-Amendment Reform and Institutional Evolution"
The Security Council's repeated failure to act has led to calls for reform, but Charter amendments are nearly impossible. We argue there's another path.
Read more: papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
"Crisis and Change at the United Nations: Non-Amendment Reform and Institutional Evolution"
The Security Council's repeated failure to act has led to calls for reform, but Charter amendments are nearly impossible. We argue there's another path.
Read more: papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
I'm so honored to have been nominated to be the President-elect of the American Society of International Law (@asilorg.bsky.social), the leading scholarly society in the international law field. Founded in 1906, ASIL has over 3000 members from more than 100 countries. To learn more: www.asil.org.
January 1, 2025 at 1:16 PM
I'm so honored to have been nominated to be the President-elect of the American Society of International Law (@asilorg.bsky.social), the leading scholarly society in the international law field. Founded in 1906, ASIL has over 3000 members from more than 100 countries. To learn more: www.asil.org.
The fall of the Assad regime in Syria once again raises the challenging issue of recognition of a new government.
In this new article, forthcoming in NYU Law Review, we review the (extremely messy) international law of government recognition. You can read it here:
papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
In this new article, forthcoming in NYU Law Review, we review the (extremely messy) international law of government recognition. You can read it here:
papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
December 9, 2024 at 6:41 PM
The fall of the Assad regime in Syria once again raises the challenging issue of recognition of a new government.
In this new article, forthcoming in NYU Law Review, we review the (extremely messy) international law of government recognition. You can read it here:
papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
In this new article, forthcoming in NYU Law Review, we review the (extremely messy) international law of government recognition. You can read it here:
papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
Last night, Russia launched a major attack on Ukraine's power grid. The grid is sometimes called a "dual use object," because it has both civilian and military uses. If you want to read more about dual use objects, check out this forthcoming article.
papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
November 17, 2024 at 12:13 PM
Last night, Russia launched a major attack on Ukraine's power grid. The grid is sometimes called a "dual use object," because it has both civilian and military uses. If you want to read more about dual use objects, check out this forthcoming article.
papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
"Major Questions About International Agreements" with
Kristen Eichensehr in Penn Law Review.
In this article, we consider the implications of recent developments in the major questions doctrine and nondelegation doctrine for international agreements.
scholarship.law.upenn.edu/cgi/viewcont...
Kristen Eichensehr in Penn Law Review.
In this article, we consider the implications of recent developments in the major questions doctrine and nondelegation doctrine for international agreements.
scholarship.law.upenn.edu/cgi/viewcont...
September 4, 2024 at 1:30 PM
"Major Questions About International Agreements" with
Kristen Eichensehr in Penn Law Review.
In this article, we consider the implications of recent developments in the major questions doctrine and nondelegation doctrine for international agreements.
scholarship.law.upenn.edu/cgi/viewcont...
Kristen Eichensehr in Penn Law Review.
In this article, we consider the implications of recent developments in the major questions doctrine and nondelegation doctrine for international agreements.
scholarship.law.upenn.edu/cgi/viewcont...
Here is my effort to grapple with what has been happening in Gaza and what it means for international humanitarian law:
www.foreignaffairs.com/ukraine/war-...
www.foreignaffairs.com/ukraine/war-...
April 23, 2024 at 3:09 PM
Here is my effort to grapple with what has been happening in Gaza and what it means for international humanitarian law:
www.foreignaffairs.com/ukraine/war-...
www.foreignaffairs.com/ukraine/war-...
I joined Pod Save the World to talk about South Africa's case against Israel at the International Court of Justice alleging violations of the Genocide Convention.
Take a listen:
crooked.com/podcast/bide...
Take a listen:
crooked.com/podcast/bide...
January 17, 2024 at 7:10 PM
I joined Pod Save the World to talk about South Africa's case against Israel at the International Court of Justice alleging violations of the Genocide Convention.
Take a listen:
crooked.com/podcast/bide...
Take a listen:
crooked.com/podcast/bide...
Powerful presentation by South Africa before the International Court of Justice today. In my view, the most powerful intervention was by Ms. Blinne Ní Ghrálaigh KC starting around 2:11, addressing the need for provisional measures. It's well worth watching.
webtv.un.org/en/asset/k11...
webtv.un.org/en/asset/k11...
January 11, 2024 at 10:36 PM
Powerful presentation by South Africa before the International Court of Justice today. In my view, the most powerful intervention was by Ms. Blinne Ní Ghrálaigh KC starting around 2:11, addressing the need for provisional measures. It's well worth watching.
webtv.un.org/en/asset/k11...
webtv.un.org/en/asset/k11...
Just returned from an amazing few days in Lviv, Ukraine, where 75 international and 75 Ukrainian experts gathered to mark the 75th anniversaries of the UDHR & Genocide Convention. Being in Ukraine was a sobering reminder of how far we have to go to make the promises of these treaties a reality.
December 13, 2023 at 7:46 PM
Just returned from an amazing few days in Lviv, Ukraine, where 75 international and 75 Ukrainian experts gathered to mark the 75th anniversaries of the UDHR & Genocide Convention. Being in Ukraine was a sobering reminder of how far we have to go to make the promises of these treaties a reality.
It was a great honor to have the chance to work for and know Justice Sandra Day O'Connor. She will be deeply missed.
December 1, 2023 at 4:31 PM
It was a great honor to have the chance to work for and know Justice Sandra Day O'Connor. She will be deeply missed.