Combatants and Civilians in Asymmetric Wars

This chapter examines the dividing line between combatants and civilians during contemporary asymmetric conflicts against nonstate actors, the preeminent type of military conflict in this age of global terrorism. Although the dividing line between combatant and civilian is well explored in both the legal and philosophical literatures, this chapter examines the subject explicitly through the lens of necessity. In particular it conentrates on the difficulty of sorting out civilians from combatants when an individual may cross the line at will, and may be involved in exercises such as serving as a human shield. The chapter concludes that the fundamental element of status (civilian versus combatant), which is the foundation for status-based targeting and status-based detention, is starting to break down in contemporary asymmetric conflicts.

Computer security · Political science · Computer Science · Eurasian Exchange Networks