IRRC No. 876
Asymmetrical war and the notion of armed conflict – An attempt at a conceptualization
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States across the globe are increasingly involved in violent conflicts with non-state groups, both within and across borders. This article seeks to conceptualize the notion of armed conflict, examine the extent to which the existing body of humanitarian law applies to the new asymmetrical conflicts, and analyse the "triggering mechanism" of IHL in these situations.