WAR AND THE LAW OF NATIONS - A GENERAL HISTORY

Tracing war as a legal concept from Roman times through to the twentieth century, Stephen Neff reveals its various roles as a law-enforcement operation, duel between states and a "crime against the peace." He also considers the post World War II definition of war as an international law-enforcement mechanism under U.N. auspices. Although unsuccessful, this attempt did help transform war into a humanitarian, rather than a policy problem. This book interests historians, students of international relations and international lawyers.

Contents - Table of cases; Table of treaties; Abbreviations; Introduction; Part I. War as Law Enforcement (to 1600): 1. Ares and Athena; 2. Loving enemies and hating sin; Part II. New Forces Stirring (1600–1815): 3. War in due form; 4. Dissension in the ranks; Part III. War as State Policy (1815–1919): 5. Collisions of naked interest; 6. Tame and half-hearted war: intervention, reprisal and necessity; 7. Civil strife; Part IV. Just Wars Reborn (1919– ): 8.Regulating war; 9. A farewell to war?; 10. New fields of battle; Conclusion; Bibliography.