From “total war” to “total defence”: tracing the origins of civilian involvement in armed conflict

From “total war” to “total defence”: tracing the origins of civilian involvement in armed conflict

When states adapt “total defence” strategies that mobilize entire populations in preparation for armed conflict, the line between civilian and combatant can become dangerously blurred. This raises pressing legal, ethical, and humanitarian questions about the risks to civilians in warfare. In this post, Ruben Stewart, ICRC Adviser on Technology in Warfare, traces the roots of “total defence” to the Napoleonic Wars, when conscription, guerrilla resistance, economic blockades, and propaganda drew civilians into the machinery of war. Through this historical lens, he shows how involving civilians in defence efforts – then and now – can expose them to harm, complicate their legal protection, and increase the burden on states to safeguard those not taking direct part in hostilities.

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Episoder(306)

“Aid must be sustainable”: communities affected by conflict share what they want from humanitarians

“Aid must be sustainable”: communities affected by conflict share what they want from humanitarians

The humanitarian landscape is being reshaped by converging trends, including the rapid adoption of new technologies in warfare, growing restrictions on how and where humanitarians can operate, impacts...

17 Sep 14min

The humanitarian case for universalizing the Convention on Cluster Munitions

The humanitarian case for universalizing the Convention on Cluster Munitions

Cluster munitions cause harm both at the moment of attack and long after fighting has ended. By scattering submunitions across wide areas, often with high failure rates, they expose civilians to immed...

3 Sep 23min

Before the fighting begins: IHL and the location of military objectives

Before the fighting begins: IHL and the location of military objectives

International humanitarian law (IHL) is primarily associated with the conduct of hostilities and the protection of people during armed conflict. Yet some of the decisions that determine civilian risk ...

27 Aug 11min

Civilian protection has a dependency-chain problem

Civilian protection has a dependency-chain problem

Civilian protection is often assessed by whether a person has been warned, evacuated, registered, sheltered or reached with relief. For many persons with disabilities, each measure depends on a wider ...

20 Aug 21min

The machines must not choose who dies: a humanitarian case for disarming AI

The machines must not choose who dies: a humanitarian case for disarming AI

As states race to develop autonomous weapons systems, the effort to agree binding international rules on machine decisions over life and death has reached a critical moment. In this post, Eberechukwu...

13 Aug 18min

Memorializing IHL violations in the age of AI: opportunities and risks for transitional justice

Memorializing IHL violations in the age of AI: opportunities and risks for transitional justice

Memorialization, one of the five pillars of transitional justice, plays a vital role in preserving the memory of international humanitarian law (IHL) violations and gross human rights violations, supp...

23 Jul 17min

“A number that learned how not to scream”: the case for community-led metrics on protection

“A number that learned how not to scream”: the case for community-led metrics on protection

The international humanitarian system has built a sophisticated architecture for the protection of civilians, namely political resolutions, cluster coordination mechanisms, reporting frameworks, and a...

7 Jul 15min

Amplifying Pacific voices: the region’s crucial role in advancing IHL

Amplifying Pacific voices: the region’s crucial role in advancing IHL

Pacific Island states have long demonstrated leadership in promoting peace, disarmament, and humanitarian values. From traditional customs that reflect principles contained in contemporary internation...

2 Jul 15min

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