Are Wars Between Men or Merely States?

”War is in no way a relationship of man with man but a relationship between States, in which individuals are enemies only by accident; not as men, nor even as citizens, but as soldiers (…)” Rousseau.[1]

On Thursday the 22 I held a mini-seminar about IHL for “my” Red Cross group. As always language was an issue, but luckily the volunteers seem to be fine with the chaos that sometimes evolves before the translator and I understand each other. I’m also learning to accept the situation, but must admit that it is frustrating to not know if you are understood or not, and not to be able to fully take part in the discussions. However, during the seminar the volunteers came up with relevant and interesting examples which tell me that the essence of what I am saying is understood. When we talked about international and no-international conflicts they had some very interesting examples from the region where they live and other former Soviet countries.

The volunteers from Ijevan live close to the Azeri border, where there still are occasional shootings. When asked, they all say that they can remember the war. So with a personal experience of what war is like, what do they think about Rousseau’s words?

Some argued that they disagree with Rousseau, because it is people who participate in war, not states. Then other argued, as Rousseau, that when you put on a uniform you become a representative for the state and not a civilian. Other questions do however arise. Is it possible to make a clear distinction between the state and its people? One of the volunteers meant that it differs in conflict to conflict, sometimes it might be merely a relationship between States, while other times it is the heart and soles of men fighting against each other. What do you think?

The question is difficult, and therefore it is so important to have clear rules for what is allowed and not in wars. In International humanitarian law there is a clear distinction between soldiers and civilians. Although our opinions might vary about whether men are enemies or that only soldiers are enemies, I believe that we all can agree upon one thing, no matter what; the rules of was should be followed.

[1] Rousseau’s statement is from ICRCs ”International Humanitarinan Law. Answers to your questions”,p.7.October 2002.