Who Owns War? : The State and the Role of Non-State (Armed) Actors in Modern Warfare

Abstract

This book provides a critical assessment of the broadly held view that states ‘own’ war. The central theme of the book is that the persistence of non-state actors in historical as well as contemporary conflicts challenges this narrative. It takes a multidisciplinary approach to address a host of questions concerning the role of non-state actors, both armed and unarmed, in conflict and their relationship with states. Recurring themes are issues of loyalty, accountability and effectiveness. Part I is subdivided into two separate themes. The first is the use of civilians in war from a legal and military operational perspective, the second the question of loyalty and accountability of the private sector. Part II considers the cases of several non-state armed actors from the past and the present, showcasing the variety of actors and roles they play. Together, the contributions to this book provide an important new perspective on the role of non-state (armed) actors in war.; The first distinguishing feature of the work is that it is multidisciplinary. It brings together perspectives from different fields that look at the same phenomenon. Various chapters combine different perspectives and provide an interdisciplinary approach to a particular topic. Another distinguishing feature is that the work is highly topical, taking into account the latest developments. For example, various chapters incorporate the latest developments in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine in their analysis. Another chapter takes stock of the latest developments concerning (weaponry used by) the Houthi in Yemen. A third distinguishing feature of the work is the proximity to practice of the authors. They are either serving officers, a number of whom have field experience, or civilian academics with policy experience or extensive service teaching experience.