Modern Warfare: Armed Groups, Private Militaries, Humanitarian Organizations, and the Law

The face of modern warfare is changing as more and more humanitarian organizations, private military companies, and non-state groups enter complex security environments such as Iraq, Afghanistan, and Haiti. Although this shift has been overshadowed by legal issues connected to the War on Terror and intervention in countries such as Rwanda and Sudan, it has caused some to question the relevance of the laws of war. To bridge the widening gap between the theory and practice of the law, Modern Warfare brings together both scholars and practitioners who offer diverse perspectives on the key challenges to the law's legitimacy: how to ensure compliance among non-state groups; the proliferation of private military companies in the employ of humanitarian organizations; tension between the idea of humanitarian space and counterinsurgency doctrines; and the phenomenon of urban violence. By bringing to light the law's limitations – and potential – this timely book opens a path to preventing further unnecessary suffering and violence.

Table of Contents:
Preface Introduction / Benjamin Perrin Part 1: Non-State Armed Groups – The Compliance Challenge 1 Asymmetrical Reciprocity and Compliance with the Laws of War / René Provost 2 The Pragmatic Value of Reciprocity: Promoting Respect for International Humanitarian Law among Non-State Armed Groups / Sophie Rondeau 3 Armed Non-State Actors and Humanitarian Norms: Lessons from the Geneva Call Experience / Elisabeth Decrey Warner, Jonathan Somer, and Pascal Bongard 4 The Ownership of International Humanitarian Law: Non-State Armed Groups and the Formation and Enforcement of IHL Rules / Sandesh Sivakumaran 5 Armed Groups and the Arms Trade Treaty: Challenges and Opportunities / Pablo Policzer and Valerie Yankey-Wayne Part 2: Private Military and Security Companies and Humanitarian Organizations 6 Private Security Companies and Humanitarian Organizations: Implications for International Humanitarian Law / Benjamin Perrin 7 The Case for Humanitarian Organizations to Use Private Security Contactors / Andrew Bearpark 8 The Use of Armed Security Escorts: A Challenge to Independent and Neutral Humanitarian Action / Jamie Williamson 9 Obligations of Private Military and Security Companies under International Humanitarian Law / Fred Schreier Part 3: The "Humanitarian Space" Debate 10 "Humanitarian Space" in Search of a New Home: (Limited) Guidance from International Law / Sylvain Beauchamp 11 Humanitarian Space and Stability Operations / Michael Khambatta 12 The Implications for Women of a Shrinking Humanitarian Space / Valerie Oosterveld 13 Whither Humanitarian Space? The Costs of Integrated Peacebuilding in Afghanistan / Emily Paddon and Taylor Owen Part 4: Addressing Endemic Urban Violence 14 Silent Wars in Our Cities: Alternatives to the Inadequacy of International Humanitarian Law to Protect Civilians during Endemic Urban Violence / Carlos Iván Fuentes 15 Rethinking Stabilization and Humanitarian Action in "Fragile Cities" / Robert Muggah and Oliver Jütersonke 16 Stabilization and Humanitarian Action in Haiti / Robert Muggah 17 Violence against Children in Urban Settings: Private Hurt, Public Manifestations / Gurvinder Singh and Judi Fairholm Conclusion / Benjamin Perrin Index

About the Author :
Benjamin Perrin is an assistant professor in the Faculty of Law at the University of British Columbia and has served as Special Advisor, Legal Affairs and Policy, in the Prime Minister's Office in Ottawa.