An International Law Of Guerrilla Warfare

The papers collected in this volume span a 35-year period of active involvement in the ‘reaffirmation and development of international humanitarian law’. A process under that name started in 1971 and ended in 1977 with the adoption of two Protocols Additional to the Geneva Conventions of 1949, one for international and one for internal armed conflicts. Subsequent developments brought a narrowing of this gap between international and internal armed conflicts, as well as growing recognition of the interplay between the law of armed conflict and human rights, the rediscovery of individual criminal liability for violations of international humanitarian law, the introduction of further prohibitions or restrictions on the use of specified weapons, and so on. In contrast with these positive developments, the period was negatively characterised by increasing disrespect, not only for some or other minor rule (such as what to do with cash taken from a prisoner of war at the time of his capture) but for the very principles underlying the entire body of the law of armed conflict: respect for the other as a human being and, hence, humane treatment of prisoners of war and other detainees, protection of civilians ... Throughout the period, the author’s activities ranged from participation in lawmaking and law interpreting exercises, through attempts at explaining the law of armed conflict in its historical context and making propaganda for its faithful implementation, to critical or even bewildered observance of actual events. The papers brought together here reflect these diverse angles.

"Published a year before Lieber's code, this pamphlet contains several ideas that were incorporated into that work. Halleck's commission resonates with our current debates concerning the definition of 'enemy combatants' and prisoners of war. In the letter to Lieber that is reproduced as a preface Halleck states: 'The rebel authorities claim the right to send men, in the garb of peaceful citizens, to waylay and attack our troops, to burn bridges and houses, and to destroy property and persons within our lines. They demand such persons be treated as ordinary belligerents, and that when captured they have extended to them the same rights as other prisoners of war; they also threaten that if such persons be punished as marauders and spies, they will retaliate by executing our prisoners of war in their possession. I particularly request your view on these questions.'"--Lawbook Exchange.

The underlying rationale for the international humanitarian law of war is the protection of individuals and victims of war. This book is a contribution to the study of human rights in general and humanitarian law in particular. It contains detailed information and analysis of the law and practice relating to international armed conflicts involving irregular combatants. The discussion focuses on the most controversial provisions of Additional Protocol I to the Geneva Conventions: the classification of wars of national liberation, the treatment of guerrillas and mercenaries upon capture, reprisals, and the question of supervision and implementation in such conflicts. The manuscript on which this book was based was awarded the 1991 Paul Reuter Prize by the International Committee of the Red Cross.

Riots, insurrections, guerrilla movements, civil wars—all forms of internal conflict are increasing throughout the world. The conditions that breed domestic violence in the Third World persist, and events in Ulster and Quebec have shown that more advanced industrial countries are not immune from civil disorder. The subject of James E. Bond's book—how can we regulate civil guerrilla warfare?—is therefore one of the most critical questions of our time. Originally published in 1974. The Princeton Legacy Library uses the latest print-on-demand technology to again make available previously out-of-print books from the distinguished backlist of Princeton University Press. These editions preserve the original texts of these important books while presenting them in durable paperback and hardcover editions. The goal of the Princeton Legacy Library is to vastly increase access to the rich scholarly heritage found in the thousands of books published by Princeton University Press since its founding in 1905.