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Michael Byers

Michael Byers holds the Canada Research Chair in Global Politics and International Law at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver.

From the London Review dated 20 February 2003

The Laws of War, US-Style

When civilians are present, international humanitarian law requires belligerents to use weapons that can distinguish between civilians and combatants; they should therefore use the most accurate weapons available to them. In yet another instance of political and financial cost-benefit analyses intruding into international humanitarian law, the US argues that this imposes an unfair burden on it, given the substantial costs involved in producing smart bombs. [ read more . . . ]

Selected bibliography

  • Intent for a Nation: What Is Canada For? (2007)
  • The Beginner's Guide to International Law (2005)
  • War Law: International Law and Armed Conflict (2005)
  • Role of Law in International Politics: Essays in International Relations and International Law (2000)
  • Custom, Power and the Power of Rules: International Relations and Customary International Law (1999)

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In the LRB archive

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subscriber-only content Alleged War Criminals · 22 July 2004

subscriber-only content A New Type of War · 6 May 2004

subscriber-only content The Ultimate Justice Show · 8 January 2004

The Laws of War, US-Style · 20 February 2003

Jumping the Gun · 25 July 2002

subscriber-only content The World according to Cheney, Rice and Rumsfeld · 21 February 2002

subscriber-only content Too Close to the USA · 6 September 2001

subscriber-only content Ready for a Rematch · 8 February 2001

Back to the Cold War? · 22 June 2000

Woken up in Seattle · 6 January 2000

Has US power destroyed the UN? · 29 April 1999

In Pursuit of Pinochet · 21 January 1999

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