Killing Civilians: Method, Madness, and Morality in War - Hardcover

The principle that unarmed and innocent people should be protected in war is an ancient, precious but fragile idea. Today, the principle of civilian protection is enshrined in modern international law and cherished by many. But, in practice, leaders in most wars reject the principle.
Using detailed historical and contemporary examples, Killing Civilians looks at the many ways in which civilians suffer in wars and analyses the main anti-civilian ideologies which insist upon such suffering. It also exposes the very real ambiguity in much civilian identity which is used to justify extreme hostility. But this is, above all, a book about why civilians should be protected. It looks deeply into the reasons and arguments for limiting human violence in war.

Hugo Slim was Chief Scholar at the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue in Geneva, a respected Swiss conflict resolution organisation that mediates in civil wars and advises on peace processes.