I was most intrigued by the theories that eventually emerged to protect civilians. Many arose out of religious thought, such as the preciousness (or sanctity) of human life. St. Thomas Aquinas advocated a form of limited war that protected civilians, while Pope Gregory also argued for the protection of those who are not actively taking part in violence (women, children, the elderly, the infirm, priests, peasants, etc.). This also supported the idea of “civilian obligation” which is outlined by Slim. Essentially, civilians must remain innocent in order to maintain their protected status. However, this does not necessarily yield a form of black-and-white decision-making. In some cases, civilians may be actively supporting troops or be at risk for indoctrination, subterfuge, sabotage, or other acts that aid the enemy. Slim argues that recognizing this ambiguity is key.
Other philosophies or ideas that protect civilians are more logical. Some advocate a fair fight. A traditional civilian cannot truly fight back on the same playing field as an active soldier. As such, it is not just to kill them. Protecting the civilians of the enemy also helps ensure that one’s own civilians are protected should the enemy encroach upon your territory. Furthermore, many leaders recognize that decimating a population can eradicate the productivity of an area. This self-interest is certainly not the most ideal philosophy to subscribe to when protecting civilians, but it is intriguing that selfishness can be twisted in a way that benefits others. Furthermore, the usage of authority is also crucial. Strong leadership that cracks down on civilian mistreatment will discourage fighters from initiating further mistreatment. Finally, the rise of humanitarianism and universal rights is increasingly being used to build a body of international law to protect civilians. With such precedents as the Geneva Convention and the UN’s Universal Declaration of Human Rights, nations are increasingly moving towards a world where violence against civilians leads to outright condemnation. It has become much rarer for such violence to be justified and sanctioned on a global platform.