Leading scholars from the fields of political science, law and philosophy have been brought together to provide an essential overview of some of the major ethical, legal and political issues with regard to protecting civilians caught up in modern inter- and intra-state conflicts. In doing so, they examine what is being done, and what can be done, to make soldiers more aware of their responsibilities in this area under international law and the ethics of war, and more able to respond appropriately to the challenges that will confront them in the field.

Protecting civilians during violent conflict : an issue in context / David Lovell -- Are attacks on civilians always wrong? / Stephen Nathanson -- Civilian immunity as an almost absolute moral rule / Igor Primoratz -- Collateral damage : intending evil and doing evil / Dean Cocking -- The protection of civilians from violence and the effects of attacks in international humanitarian law / Hitoshi Nasu -- Discriminate warfare : the military necessity : humanity dialectic of international humanitarian law / Michael N. Schmitt -- Who is protected under international humanitarian law? Finding a definition for "direct participation in hostilities" / Helen Durham and Eve Massingham -- Protecting civilians in armed conflict through rules of engagement / Rob McLaughlin -- Educating for ethical behaviour? Preparing military leaders for ethical challenges / David Lovell -- First do no harm : refugee law as a response to armed conflict / Penelope Mathew -- Private military and security companies and the "civilianization" of war / Andrew Alexandra -- Remote killing and drive-by wars / David Whetham -- Discrimination and non-lethal weapons : issues for the future military / Stephen Coleman -- Surviving in a war zone : the problem of civilian casualties in Afghanistan / William Maley -- The protection of civilians during the Israeli-Hamas conflict : the Goldstone Report / Richard D. Rosen -- An assessment of the Gaza Report's contribution to the development of international humanitarian law / Susan Breau.