This book provides an examination of whether there is a legally independent 'principle of humanity' in international humanitarian law.

1. Introduction by the editors: is there a 'principle of humanity' in international humanitarian law? Kjetil Mujezinovi¿ Larsen, Camilla Guldahl Cooper and Gro Nystuen; Part I. Theoretical Perspectives: 2. The main epochs of modern international humanitarian law since 1864 and their related dominant legal constructions Robert Kolb; 3. The principle of proportionality Yoram Dinstein; 4. The Geneva Conventions and the dichotomy between international and non-international armed conflict - curse or blessing for the 'principle of humanity'? Cecilie Hellestveit; 5. A 'principle of humanity' or a 'principle of human-rightism'? Kjetil Mujezinovi¿ Larsen; 6. The principle of humanity in the development of 'special protection' for children in armed conflict: 60 years beyond the Geneva Conventions and 20 years beyond the Convention on the Rights of the Child Katarina Månsson; Part II. Nordic Experiences: 7. Military occupation of Eastern Karelia by Finland in 1941-4: was international law pushed aside? Lauri Hannikainen; 8. The occupied and the occupant: the case of Norway Sigrid Redse Johansen; 9. Multinational peace operations forces involved in armed conflict: who are the parties? Ola Engdahl; 10. Detention in UN peace operations Peter Vedel Kessing; 11. Humanity and the discourse of legality Rikke Ishøy; 12. Implementation in practice: 60 years of dissemination and other implementation efforts in a Norwegian perspective Arne Willy Dahl and Camilla Guldahl Cooper; Part III. Conclusions: 13. Conclusions: is there a 'principle of humanity' in international humanitarian law? Kjetil Mujezinovi¿ Larsen and Camilla Guldahl Cooper.