Publisher's Synopsis
This book examines two branches of the international law of armed conflict as they apply to national liberation movements. First, it explores the idea that national liberation movements may legitimately resort to the use of force to secure the right of their peoples to self-determination. Second, it examines the application of the humanitarian law of armed conflict in wars of national liberation.;After a brief explanation of the traditional law, the book explores the development of the ideas that there is a right of "peoples" to self-determination in international law. This change in ideas has developed primarily during the post World War II period of decolonization.;The book then expands upon two corollaries which derive from this idea. The first corollary is that the use of force by national liberation movements should be included on the short list of situations in which the use of force is regarded as legitimate.;The second corollary is that, since "peoples" have a status in international law separate and distinct from that of the state governing them, wars of national liberation are international wars by definition, and the international rules governing the conduct of hostilities should apply.;The study examines the extent to which changes in international law have been reflected in the recent practice of States and national liberation movements.
