Andrew M Bell
banner
andrewmbell.bsky.social
Andrew M Bell
@andrewmbell.bsky.social
Senior Research Scholar, Stanford CISAC
Law of armed conflict/IHL, military ethics, int'l security & law | USAF vet.
By happenstance I'm visiting the Netherlands Defense Academy today....Was particularly moved by this essential Veteran's Day read nytimes.com/2025/11/11/o...
Opinion | If Only More Americans Could See This Place
nytimes.com
November 11, 2025 at 7:50 PM
Personal update: I've started a new position as Senior Research Scholar at the Stanford Center for International Security and Cooperation (CISAC). Thrilled for the opportunity to continue my research on law, ethics, and civilian protection and join the amazing @stanfordcisac.bsky.social community
October 15, 2025 at 6:37 PM
Reposted by Andrew M Bell
This is the power the President is claiming when he uses war to justify summary execution of suspected criminals at sea —

If he is claiming power to do it on the high seas, he’s saying he can do it in Chicago. And if he’s claiming this is war, he saying he can accept civilian casualties.
What no limiting principle on Caribbean strikes means for Chicago
YouTube video by Just Security
www.youtube.com
October 15, 2025 at 5:27 PM
Personal update: Thrilled to announce I've joined the #DoD's Civilian Protection Center of Excellence (#CPCOE) as lead of professional military education initiatives. Proud to contribute efforts to improve U.S. mil capabilities & operations while helping protect innocents in war.
February 6, 2025 at 10:31 PM
Reposted by Andrew M Bell
Headed to APSA 2025? I’m putting together a panel on new approaches to military effectiveness. All methods + time periods welcome! (We have an experiment on discrimination and unit cohesion, for example). If you’re interested, send me an email.
December 15, 2024 at 5:05 PM
Reposted by Andrew M Bell
Reminder! The deadline is tomorrow!!
Hey #civmilsky #milsky and military historians!

We have EXTENDED the deadline for conference proposals for the CMRC's annual CMRC Conference! The theme this year is, "Civil-Military Relations Across the Globe." New deadline is Dec 9!

Apply today here: cmrc.armywarcollege.edu/outreach-pro...
Conference – USAWC Civil-Military Relations Center
cmrc.armywarcollege.edu
December 9, 2024 at 2:45 AM
Reposted by Andrew M Bell
Even historians of Vietnam don't really talk about this:

From January - July 1968, the KIA rate for U.S. troops in Vietnam was higher than the Korean War or the Mediterranean and Pacific Theatres of World War II.

During 1968-69 U.S. troops were wounded at a higher rate than World War II or Korea.
December 6, 2024 at 3:24 PM
Reposted by Andrew M Bell
i think INTERSTELLAR is a bona fide masterpiece — maybe nolan's greatest film — and i'm not at all ashamed to say that i weep every time i watch it.
Interstellar’s Most Enduring Quality Is What People Used to Hate About It
Christopher Nolan’s sci-fi spectacle is fascinating precisely because of what so many pegged as its fatal flaw in 2014: its unabashed emotionality.
www.vulture.com
December 6, 2024 at 5:18 PM
Reposted by Andrew M Bell
Probably one of the best things I’ve ever seen tbh
November 23, 2024 at 10:12 PM
Reposted by Andrew M Bell
Welcome @articlesofwar.bsky.social. A superb resource on the jus ad bellum, IHL/LOAC, and other issues at the intersection of international law and military operations by West Point’s Lieber Institute. Subscribe and consider contributing.
November 23, 2024 at 2:28 AM
Reposted by Andrew M Bell
I had about 10 minutes to create this, so tons of people are unintentionally missing. So please include yourself and share widely!

go.bsky.app/VH75HUu
November 20, 2024 at 2:15 PM
Reposted by Andrew M Bell
Another successful Editorial Committee meeting this week in Geneva, discussing draft commentaries on the Fourth Geneva Convention for the updated ICRC commentary. We expect online publication in 2025. Existing commentaries available here: ihl-databases.icrc.org/en/ihl-treat...
#IHL #IntLaw #ICRC
November 21, 2024 at 10:19 AM
Reposted by Andrew M Bell
🚨Thrilled to see my latest article (open access) with Benoît Pelopidas now out with Ethics and International Affairs.

We consider the limits of “tragedy” in the context of military violence and argue for a renewed focus on political responsibility. 1/6
doi.org/10.1017/S089...
The Tragedy Trap: On the Tragicized Politics of Nuclear Weapons and Armed Drones and the Making of Unaccountability | Ethics & International Affairs | Cambridge Core
The Tragedy Trap: On the Tragicized Politics of Nuclear Weapons and Armed Drones and the Making of Unaccountability - Volume 38 Issue 2
doi.org
November 22, 2024 at 6:19 PM
Reposted by Andrew M Bell
⭐Job Alert ⭐
GW's Elliott School & Political Science Dept are hiring a full-time, tenured Assoc/Full Prof. in security studies beginning Fall 2025. Seeking a strong track record of research, teaching & policy engagement in the field of security studies, broadly defined.
www.gwu.jobs/postings/116...
Professor of Political Science and International Affairs
Security studies: The George Washington University’s Elliott School of International Affairs and Department of Political Science invite applications for a full-time, tenured faculty position in securi...
www.gwu.jobs
November 22, 2024 at 9:35 PM
Reposted by Andrew M Bell
Launching a new resource mapping state reactions to the #ICC arrest warrants for #Netanyahu and Gallant, thanks to @becingber.bsky.social and the @justsecurity.org team.

Check back for updates:
www.justsecurity.org/105064/mappi...
Mapping State Reactions to the ICC Warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant
Mapping how states are responding to the ICC's arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Gallant.
www.justsecurity.org
November 22, 2024 at 7:08 PM
Reposted by Andrew M Bell
Ok @mikeschmitt.bsky.social made me realise there was no proper international humanitarian law starter pack so I’ve created my first one. It is far from being complete so please feel free to mention yourself and/or others who should be included!

go.bsky.app/N6Bw1E7
November 16, 2024 at 3:55 PM
Reposted by Andrew M Bell
November 22, 2024 at 6:54 PM
Reposted by Andrew M Bell
Will Trump’s return spell the end of American exceptionalism?

Columnist @profpaulpoast.bsky.social argues that it will simply reveal what the US has always been:
Trump’s Return Will Expose American Exceptionalism, Not End It
Trump’s return won’t spell the end of American exceptionalism. It will simply reveal what the U.S. has always been.
www.worldpoliticsreview.com
November 22, 2024 at 7:02 PM
Reposted by Andrew M Bell
No better expert to explain the #ICC arrest warrants than @tomdannenbaum.bsky.social.

Read his analysis via @justsecurity.org:

- What alleged crimes made it into the warrants? What got left out?
- Obligations of ICC member states? Of the US & others?
- What happens next and prospects for appeal?
November 22, 2024 at 7:58 PM
Reposted by Andrew M Bell
Today is the official publication day of the new paperback of my book #preparingforwar on the making of the Geneva Conventions.

You can order it 👇

global.oup.com/academic/pro...
January 31, 2024 at 8:24 AM
Reposted by Andrew M Bell
Challenged my students to 1) improve my taste in music & 2) help make IR more relevant to them. Excited to share their IR playlist @alpsblog.bsky.social!

Shout out to Mike Tierney for original inspiration & @drjostojski.bsky.social for excellent editing.

activelearningps.com/2024/01/26/a...
A Crowdsourced IR Playlist
A new guest post by Dr. Summer Marion from Bentley University, Waltham, MA: Since Fall 2022, I have taught ten sections of Internationals Relations at Bentley University. Each semester, I experimen…
activelearningps.com
January 26, 2024 at 12:26 PM
Great piece on intl law in war from @janinadill.bsky.social
When Int. Law becomes relevant in mainstream discourse it also often raises expectations it can't meet, with worrisome backlash effects. I wrote about this in TIME. Looking at Gaza & Ukraine it might seem like int. law is failing us, but war without law would be much worse.

time.com/6588977/inte...
What International Law Can—and Can’t Achieve—in Gaza
These two major conflicts appear to demonstrate the weakness of international law. But war without law is no alternative at all.
time.com
January 27, 2024 at 11:30 AM
Reposted by Andrew M Bell
Coming soon...
January 19, 2024 at 12:25 AM
Reposted by Andrew M Bell
Grateful 4 the opportunity to comment on this careful report by CNN The Lead on the destruction of cemeteries in #Gaza. Many more #IHL issues involved here: destruction of property, dignity of the dead etc. Watch this space 4 a deeper dive.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=RfFE...
CNN witnessed first-hand results of Israel's bulldozing of graveyards in Gaza
CNN correspondent Jeremy Diamond shows the damage left to cemeteries in Gaza after Israeli forces bulldozed and uprooted graves. #CNN #News
www.youtube.com
January 19, 2024 at 9:18 AM
Hello world, checking out BlueSky...
January 17, 2024 at 11:33 AM