Chapter

Discrimination and non-lethal weapons : issues for the future military

Stephen Coleman

Protecting civilians during violent conflict : theoretical and practical issues for the 21st century

Farnham ; Burlington : Ashgate, 2012

p. 215-229

English

Stephen Coleman observes that there are many situations where it would be extremely useful for military personnel to have access to non-lethal weapons (NLWs), especially in humanitarian, peacekeeping and counterinsurgency operations, and in other situations where the distinction between combatants and non-combatants tends to be blurred. There are, however, also some obvious problems with the use of such weapons, including the fact that some NLWs might violate existing conventions on chemical or biological weapons and that there might be a temptation for personnel equipped with such weapons to use them inappropriately.

• Protecting civilians during violent conflict : theoretical and practical issues for the 21st century / ed. by David W. Lovell, Igor Primoratz