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The Image before the Weapon: A Critical History of the Distinction between Combatant and Civilian,Used
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Since at least the Middle Ages, the laws of war have distinguished between combatants and civilians under an injunction now formally known as the principle of distinction. The principle of distinction is invoked in contemporary conflicts as if there were an unmistakable and sure distinction to be made between combatant and civilian. As is so brutally evident in armed conflicts, it is precisely the distinction between civilian and combatant, upon which the protection of civilians is founded, cannot be taken as selfevident or stable. Helen M. Kinsella documents that the history of international humanitarian law itself admits the difficulty of such a distinction.In The Image before the Weapon, Kinsella explores the evolution of the concept of the civilian and how it has been applied in warfare. A series of discoursesincluding gender, innocence, and civilizationhave shaped the legal, military, and historical understandings of the civilian and she documents how these discourses converge at particular junctures to demarcate the difference between civilian and combatant. Engaging with works on the law of war from the earliest thinkers in the Western tradition, including St. Thomas Aquinas and Christine de Pisan, to contemporary figures such as James Turner Johnson and Michael Walzer, Kinsella identifies the foundational ambiguities and inconsistencies in the principle of distinction, as well as the significant role played by Christian concepts of mercy and charity. She then turns to the definition and treatment of civilians in specific armed conflicts: the American Civil War and the U.S.Indian wars of the nineteenth century, and the civil wars of Guatemala and El Salvador in the 1980s. Finally, she analyzes the two modern treaties most influential for the principle of distinction: the 1949 IV Geneva Convention Relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Times of War and the 1977 Protocols Additional to the 1949 Conventions, which for the first time formally defined the civilian within international law. She shows how the experiences of the two world wars, but particularly World War II, and the Algerian war of independence affected these subsequent codifications of the laws of war.As recognition grows that compliance with the principle of distinction to limit violence against civilians depends on a firmer grasp of its legal, political, and historical evolution, The Image before the Weapon is a timely intervention in debates about how best to protect civilian populations.
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- Q: What is the main theme of 'The Image before the Weapon'? A: The main theme of 'The Image before the Weapon' is the critical exploration of the principle of distinction between combatants and civilians in warfare, examining its historical evolution and implications within international humanitarian law.
- Q: Who is the author of this book? A: The author of 'The Image before the Weapon' is Helen M. Kinsella, who analyzes the complexities surrounding the distinction between combatants and civilians in various conflicts.
- Q: What type of binding does this book have? A: 'The Image before the Weapon' is available in hardcover binding, making it durable for prolonged use and ideal for collectors.
- Q: When was 'The Image before the Weapon' published? A: 'The Image before the Weapon' was published on May 2, 2011.
- Q: How many pages does the book contain? A: 'The Image before the Weapon' contains a total of 272 pages, providing a comprehensive overview of its subject matter.
- Q: Is this book suitable for academic use? A: Yes, 'The Image before the Weapon' is suitable for academic use as it engages with significant legal and historical discourses on international humanitarian law and the laws of war.
- Q: What condition is this book in? A: 'The Image before the Weapon' is listed as a new book, ensuring that it is in pristine condition for readers.
- Q: What categories does this book fall under? A: 'The Image before the Weapon' falls under the category of Strategy, particularly in discussions of warfare and humanitarian law.
- Q: Does the book include historical examples of conflicts? A: Yes, the book discusses various historical conflicts, including the American Civil War, the U.S.-Indian wars, and civil wars in Guatemala and El Salvador, to illustrate its points.
- Q: What is the significance of the principle of distinction in warfare? A: The principle of distinction is significant in warfare as it aims to protect civilians by clearly defining the differences between combatants and non-combatants, which has profound implications for international humanitarian law.