The Law of Armed Conflict

The Law of Armed Conflict, 3rd Edition is a comprehensive textbook designed to introduce senior undergraduate and first-year graduate students to international humanitarian law in an age of terrorism. Published by Cambridge University Press, this volume analyzes how legal standards regulate state military action and asymmetrical combat.

The text synthesizes long-standing doctrines with modern tactical developments. Readers examine the four core principles of the law of armed conflict, command responsibility, obedience to orders, ruses, and perfidy. Detailed chapters address target lawfulness, rules of engagement, and military targeting decisions. Additional analysis explores complex legal issues surrounding cyber warfare, drone operations, and autonomous weapon systems.

This third edition incorporates new chapters covering updated issues in armed conflict law. The volume provides a complete framework tailored for upper-division undergraduate courses and entry-level graduate seminars in law, international relations, and political science.