Laws of war and 21st century conflict / E.L. Gaston, editor

Document type:

Book

Subtype of document:

Recueil

Title:

Laws of war and 21st century conflict

Author zone:

E.L. Gaston, editor

Editor:

New York [etc.] : International Debate Education Association, 2012

Physical description:

226 p. ; 23 cm

ISBN:

978-1-61770-026-2

Languages:

English

General Note:

Bibliographie : p. 224-226

Abstract:

The laws of war and 21st century conflict explores how international law considers and confronts the so-called new warfare. To many, modern conflict appears unlike any we have known before. A modern battlefield might as easily be found in an urban shopping mall or in the frontline trenches of a failed state. Weaponry that once populated science fiction novels and movies is now a reality, with unmanned aerial drones used against military targets in several countries and automated robots replacing some soldiers on the battlefield. Globalization and the diffusion of technology have eroded state controls and empowered other actors, from terrorist groups to mercenaries. Now, the most deadly threats might be activated by the push of a cell-phone button or from a computer hacker's screen on the other side of the world. Yet, despite how different modern warfare appears on its face, is it so fundamentally different from wars of the past? Many of the most prevalent forms of conflict, including terrorism and guerrilla warfare, have long existed. Even if modern warfare does not present such unique or unparalleled challenges as we might at first conclude, can the same international rules that have been developed and used since the mid-19th century still apply to 21st century warfare? This anthology explores some of the critiques of the framework of the laws of war, presents suggestions for reform, and explores persistent grey areas in the regulation of armed conflict.

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