Rules of War
No matter who, no matter where, there are rules
Most people assume war is lawless.
It isn’t.
There are rules about what can and cannot be done, even in conflict.
To kick off a new three-part series, The Rules That Hold the World Together: What Happens When We Break Them—and What We Can Do About It, I’m sharing a short video from the International Committee of the Red Cross. The ICRC has long been the global standard-bearer for international humanitarian law, i.e. the “rules of war.”
Over the next few posts, I’ll break down how these rules work in practice, how they relate to NATO and our alliances, and why they matter for negotiation and mediation—especially right now.
For now, start here: What Are the Rules of War? (4:44)
As you watch, ask yourself: do you think these rules still shape how states behave today?