John Bellinger, former State Department legal advisor, speaks on international law

SUNY New Paltz welcomed John Bellinger to campus Monday, April 27, for a lecture entitled “Confronting the Islamic State: Challenges for International Law and International Justice.”

Bellinger, a globally-recognized expert on international humanitarian law, spoke to students and faculty about three related topics: the rise and crimes of the Islamic State (ISIS/ISIL), the Obama administration’s interpretation of the 2001 Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF) to justify aerial strikes against the group, and the role Bellinger believes the International Criminal Court (ICC) should take in holding ISIS leaders responsible for their actions.

Bellinger’s visit to New Paltz was made possible thanks in large part to the efforts of Nicole Hoerold ’15 (International Relations).

“I get a lot of emails and calls from students, usually from schools that I’ve gone to or that I’m connected to via a professor,” Bellinger said. “It’s only maybe one in 100 that just comes out of the blue, and Nicole’s was one of the best – it really got my attention.”

Hoerold developed an interest in Bellinger’s work while researching her Honors Program Senior Thesis, “Genocide: Its History and How We Can Prevent It in the Future.” She reached out to Bellinger at the urging of her project advisor, political science Professor Nancy Kassop.

“I felt there would be no better way to raise awareness about genocide than by bringing an important person here to speak,” Hoerold said. “When we were thinking about speakers we could bring to campus, Mr. Bellinger’s name was always at the very top of the list, because of the influence and expertise he has in the field. Working with him has been an incredible and very humbling experience.”

In her opening remarks ahead of Bellinger’s lecture, Kassop described the evening’s program as “a gift to New Paltz from Nicole.”

Bellinger’s lecture was preceded by a reception and informal discussion with students and faculty in the Honors Center. Bellinger spoke candidly about the international response to the violence of the Islamic State, and he listened to the perspectives of students who have come to New Paltz from areas in Turkey and Syria that have been directly affected by the emergence of ISIS. He also offered words of encouragement to those aspiring to use an education in international relations to effect global change.

“I’m a great champion of public service, and I always encourage young people who are thinking of ways to make a difference to consider spending some time in government or serving in international organizations or civil society groups,” Bellinger said.

John Bellinger served as the top foreign relations lawyer for the U.S. government from 2001-2009. He was Senior Associate Counsel to the President and Legal Advisor to the National Security Council at the White House from 2001-2005, and State Department Legal Advisor from 2005-2009.

To learn more about his position on the international community’s options for confronting the Islamic State, see his recent “New York Times” op-ed, “Make ISIS’ Leaders Face Justice.”