- English
- ePUB (mobile friendly)
- Available on iOS & Android
About this book
This book provides a critical and comprehensive analysis of the reconceptualization of preventive warfare in the 21st century. It discusses how the US launched and fought some wars to prevent future vague threats and how that practice has fundamentally undermined the legal system and the main principles of the use of force in ways that not only further US dominance but shield powerful actors from accountability. The US redefined key legal concepts to set up a new legal framework for preventive warfare and, consequently, introduced new practices for carrying out preventive military operations.
Drawing on a collection of case studies, on the changes in the jus ad bellum and jus in bello, focusing mainly on Afghanistan and Iraq and beyond, the book shows how violations of the law of war were persistently conducted in the 21st century by supposedly democratic countries that claimed to be upholding the law. It explores three types of preventive warfare – that is, preventive national self-defense, preventive on-the-spot reactions, and preventive "security" detention – to show how they blurred the line between civilians and legitimate military targets, and thus increased the risk of causing harm to civilians. The book speaks to students, scholars, and practitioners from the fields of criminology, law, international relations, political science, critical security studies, and critical military studies.
Frequently asked questions
- Essential is ideal for learners and professionals who enjoy exploring a wide range of subjects. Access the Essential Library with 800,000+ trusted titles and best-sellers across business, personal growth, and the humanities. Includes unlimited reading time and Standard Read Aloud voice.
- Complete: Perfect for advanced learners and researchers needing full, unrestricted access. Unlock 1.4M+ books across hundreds of subjects, including academic and specialized titles. The Complete Plan also includes advanced features like Premium Read Aloud and Research Assistant.
Please note we cannot support devices running on iOS 13 and Android 7 or earlier. Learn more about using the app.
Information
Table of contents
- Cover
- Front Matter
- 1. Introduction: The Rise of Preventive Warfare
- 2. Preventive Wars of Aggression: The Reconceptualization of National “Self-Defense”
- 3. Preventive Killings: The Reconceptualization of the Use of Force in Individual and Unit “Self-Defense” Reactions
- 4. Preventive “Security” Detention: The New Conceptualization of Internment for Imperative Reasons of Security
- 5. Preventing Accountability: The Erasure of Civilian Victims and the Quest for Impunity
- 6. Conclusion: Hegemonic Violence in the Age of Preventive Warfare
- Back Matter