About Steven J. Barela, LL.M., Ph.D.
University of Geneva
Global Studies Institute
20, rue de l’Ecole de Médecine
CH-1205 Geneva
CONTACT
Steven J. BARELA is currently an Assistant Professor at the Global Studies Institute and a member of the law faculty at the University of Geneva. He has taught at the Korbel School of International Studies at Denver University, and lectured for l’Université Laval (Québec), Sciences Po Bordeaux, UCLA and the Geneva Academy of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights.
He began his university education of Spanish language, literature and culture in the United States, leading him to study in Madrid and Valladolid, Spain. Next, his scholastic career continued in Paris, France (French language, art and culture), Albuquerque, New Mexico (Latin American Studies) and Mexico D.F., Mexico (Spanish language, art and literature).
After becoming trilingual, he enriched this initial education with studies in international relations and political philosophy at the University of Denver; bringing him to Geneva where he obtained his third masters (LL.M.) in the field of international humanitarian law and human rights, and finally completed a Ph.D. in law with the highest distinction, “mention très bien” (equivalent to summa cum laude).
Research Interests:
International Law, War on Terror, Targeted Killing, Drones, Targeted Killing, Ethics of War, Habeas Corpus, Just War Theory, State Complicity in Torture, Guantanamo Bay Prison, Legitimacy and Authority, Political Legitimacy, Power and Legitimacy, Hannah Arendt, Theory of Revolution, Politics of Non-Violent Action, Guerilla Warfare, Latin American and Caribbean History, Latin American literature, Conflict Mediation Strategies, Legal Philosophy, and Political Philosophy
Language Skills
English: mother tongue, Spanish: fluent, French: fluent
Research and Teaching Topics
Legitimacy, Terrorism and Counterterrorism, Humanitarian Law, Human Rights Law, Interdisciplinarity, Habeas Corpus, Use of Force in Int’l Law, Just War, Torture, Political Violence and Non-Violence, Asymmetrical Conflict, Latin American History and Literature
Education
| March 2012 | Ph.D. Degree in Law, “Mention très bien” highest distinction (equivalent to summa cum laude) – Faculty of Law, University of Geneva, International Law & Political and Legal Philosophy |
| May 2009 | LL.M. Degree – Geneva Academy of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights, University of Geneva & Graduate Institute of Int’l Studies |
| August 2005 | M.A. Degree in International Studies – Graduate School of Int’l Studies, University of Denver2004-5 – Study Abroad at Faculty of Law, University of Geneva, Switzerland |
| May 1998 | M.A. Degree in Latin American History and Literature – Latin American and Iberian Institute, University of New Mexico1995 – Study Abroad at the Autonomous University of Mexico, Mexico D.F. |
| August 1994 | Bachelors Degree in Spanish Language & Literature – Iowa State University1993-1994 – Study Abroad at the British Institute of Paris, France1991-1992 – Study Abroad at the University of Valladolid, Spain1991 – Independent Study Abroad in Madrid, Spain |
Employment
| 2013-Current | Assistant Professor, Global Studies Institute/Faculty of Law, University of Geneva |
| 2012-2013 | Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Faculty of Law, University of GenevaCoordinator for Geneva-Harvard-Renmin-Sydney Conference, January 2013 |
| 2008-2011 | Doctoral Assistant, Department of the History of Law and of Legal and Political Doctrines, University of Geneva |
| 2005-2008 | Research Assistant, University Forum 2005-8: “Democracy and Terrorism”, University of Geneva |
| 1996-2005 | United Airlines – Spanish and French qualified Flight Attendant, Customer Service Representative and Baggage Handler |
Publications
(Editor) The Legitimacy of Drones: Legality, Morality and Efficacy of UCAVs for Cross-Border Counterterrorism (Burlington, VT: Ashgate, forthcoming 2015).
With Alexis Keller, ‘Justice, Peace and Jus Post Bellum’, Review of Larry May, After War Ends: A Philosophical Perspective; Daniel Philpott, Just and Unjust Peace: An Ethic of Political Reconciliation; and Eric Patterson (ed.), Ethics Beyond War’s End in Amsterdam Law Forum 6, 4 (forthcoming 2014).
International Law, New Diplomacy and Counterterrorism: An Interdisciplinary Study of Legitimacy (London: Routledge, 2014).
Invited Review of Finkelstein, C., Ohlin, J.D., Altman, A., Targeted Killings: Law and Morality in an Asymmetrical World in (2013) 11, 1 Journal of International Criminal Justice.
“Judicially Moderated Dialogue and the ‘War on Terror’” in Balancing Liberty and Security: The Human Rights Pendulum, L.Hennebel and H.Tigroudja (eds.) (Nijmegen, Holland: Wolf Legal Pub., 2012).
“Preemptive or Preventive War: A Discussion of Legal and Moral Standards,” (Winter 2004) 33, 1 Denver Journal of International Law and Policy 31.
University Teaching and Lectures
| Spring 2014 | Legitimate Force – Undergraduate Seminar, Global Studies Institute of the University of Geneva |
| May 2012 | Les assassinats (ciblés) : le programme de contreterrorisme des États-Unis(Targeted) Killing: The U.S. Counterterrorism Program (given in French) –Conférencier, Université Laval, L’Institut Québécois des Hautes Études Internationales (HEI), Sciences Po Bordeaux et la Faculté de Droit de l’Université Laval – École d’été sur les Conflits et Interventions Internationales |
| May 2011 | Detention, Judicial Review and the ‘War on Terror’, Lecture for Human Rights in Armed Conflict Course, Geneva Academy of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights |
| May 2011 | La légitimité, Guantánamo et la détention préventive Legitimacy, Guantánamo and Preventive Detention (given in French) –Conférencier, Université Laval, Institut québécois des hautes études internationales – École internationale d’été sur les terrorismes |
| August 2010 | U.S. Counterterrorism and Int’l Law – University of California at Los Angeles, Geneva Program – Lectures on ‘Torture Law’ and ‘Guantánamo and the U.S. Supreme Court’ paired with afternoon visits to OHCHR and the ICRC |
| May 2010 | La légitimité comme cible du terrorisme: le cas des Etats-UnisLegitimacy as a Target of Terrorism: The U.S. Case (given in English) – Conférencier, Université Laval, Institut québécois des hautes études internationales – École internationale d’été sur les terrorismes |
| Summer 2009 | International Law and the ‘War on Terror’ – Masters level course taught at the University of Denver, Korbel School of International Studies |
| May 2009 | Detention, Judicial Review and the ‘War on Terror’, Lecture for Human Rights in Armed Conflict Course, Geneva Academy of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights |
Conference Papers
| Sept 2013 | Legality and Morality in Drone Killing: Implications for Diplomatic Practice8th Pan – European Conference on International Relations, University of Warsaw, Poland |
| Nov 2012 | Drone Killing: Non-State Actors and Imminence in U.S. Counterterrorism, Law in Crisis? Normality and Exceptions in the Regulation of Armed Violence at the 41st Annual Conference of the Canadian Council on International Law |
| Nov 2011 | The Coincidence of Legality and Morality: Bacon, Grotius and U.S. Counterterrorism, « Paix, guerre et justice » – Colloque Interdisciplinaire et Bilingue, Université de Genève, Facultés des Théologie et Droit |
| Dec 2009 | Judicially Moderated Dialogue and the ‘War on Terror’ – Counterterrorism Models: Transatlantic Perspectives Conference, Brussels, Belgium |
| Sept 2007 | Legitimacy and the ‘War on Terror’ – Cities Against Terrorism Conference, EU Forum, Brussels, Belgium |
| March 2005 | Preemptive or Preventive War and the Law of Peoples – International Studies Association Conference, Honolulu, Hawaii |
Editorial Assistance
| 2005 – 2008 | Assistant Editor, Counterterrorism: Democracy’s Challenge, Edited by Andrea Bianchi and Alexis Keller (Hart Publishing, 2008) |
| 2004 – 2005 | Research Assistant, What is a Just Peace? Edited by Alexis Keller and Pierre Allan (OUP, 2006) |
Academic Distinctions
| March 2012 | Ph.D. Degree in Law, “Mention très bien” highest distinction (equivalent to summa cum laude) – Faculty of Law, University of Geneva International Law & Political and Legal Philosophy |
| June 2007 | Hans Wilsdorf Foundation Scholarship for the LL.M. degree at the Geneva Academy of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights |
| July 2004 | United Nations International Law Seminar – Selected as the only U.S. participant of 24 worldwide attendees |
| 2002-2005 | Full Academic Scholarship Recipient – Graduate School of International Studies, Denver University |
| May 1998 | Masters Thesis, Latin American Studies – One Hundred Years to Sovereignty, Recognized with Distinction, University of New Mexico |
| 1989-1994 | George Washington Carver Full Academic Scholarship Recipient – Iowa State University |
