Numerous democratic nations have been singled out by NGOs for brutality in their modus operandi, for paying inadequate attention to civilian protection or for torture of prisoners. This book deals with the difficulties faced when conducting asymmetric warfare in populated areas without violating humanitarian law.

Edited by SAMY COHEN is Research Director at CERI (Centre for International Studies and Research) Sciences Po, Paris, France. He is teaching at the Comparative Politics Master at Sciences Po, France. He is author of several books among which The Resilience of The State. Democracy and the Challenge of the Globalization, 2006; Mitterrand and the End of the Cold War, (ed.), 1998.