Cyberwar: Are Civilians Back on the Battlefield
Abstract
The growth of cyberspace is posing challenges to many aspects of the international system and foremost among them is the current Law of Armed Conflict (LOAC) paradigm. While humanitarian concerns have strongly influenced recent LOAC development, state interests and not humanitarian concerns ultimately determine how states conduct war. Accordingly, states will continually explore and consider the nascent opportunities presented by cyberspace to determine whether cyberspace operations enables them to more easily or efficiently achieve their political objectives. In doing so, state practice will challenge many of the current LOAC provisions. Chief among these are rules regarding combatantcy and targeting of civilians. The rule s concerning combatantcy developed because the state controlled a monopoly on the use of for ce and could only employ this force effectively through an organized military structure. However, the unique aspects of cyberspace challenges both the monopoly states have on the use of force and the need to employ that force through an organized military structure. Similarly, the rules concerning the targeting of civilians developed after states concluded that targeting civilians did not ultimately further their political objectives However, cyberspace provide states the opportunity to target civilians in a more efficient and less directly violent manner.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 17, 2015
- Accession Number
- ADA619415
Entities
People
- Patrick W. Franzese
Organizations
- Air War College