Introduction to The Hague Land Warfare Convention

This book sheds light on the body of treaties that sets the rules and norms for warfare between states. In a world increasingly characterised by armed conflict, this book offers an analysis of the Hague Land Warfare Convention, its annexes and supplementary documents. It presents not only the historical contexts in which this landmark convention was created, but also the negotiations and debates that led to its ratification. This book examines the meaning of the central articles and reveals the underlying legal principles. It places the Hague Land Warfare Convention in relation to other important international treaties such as the Geneva Conventions and discusses its application and disregard in the two World Wars, during the Cold War and in more recent conflicts of the 21st century, up to and including the Ukraine war. The work also highlights the challenges and criticisms that the Hague Land Warfare Order faces in a changing global landscape, including technological developments such as cyberwarfare and drones. With discussions on political and ethical debates as well as proposals for reform, this book rounds off the wide-ranging topic and places it in the current global context.