Introduction

Abstract

Abstract This chapter provides an overview of the monograph, outlining the structure of the discussion and introducing the key arguments that will be advanced. The principle of distinction, as a targeting rule in international humanitarian law (IHL), is introduced along with the concept of the civilian as it circulates in IHL. Three sets of international actors are presented—humanitarian actors, peacekeepers, and military actors—and the humanitarian actor is situated as the central character of the study. The boundaries between these actors are loosely sketched, so that they can be elucidated gradually over the course of the discussion as the empirical findings are revealed. The three central claims of the monograph are outlined as follows. First, it is argued that a wide range of unconventional actors, operating in unconventional places, produce IHL rules in everyday practice. Second, it is contended that distinction, not only as a grounded practice but also as a vaunted IHL rule, is perpetually disrupted. Third, the existence of a ‘civilian plus’ status in international practice is proposed. A brief overview of the study’s methodology is also provided, along with an introduction to the Kinetic, Pedagogical, and Intellectual realms.