ABSTRACT
Civilian devastation in times of war is not limited to combat settings. Their suffering can also arise from draconian policies of their own political leaders. For these leaders, a militaristic framing of war, which priorities national security and defense, gives them carte blanche to determine the fate of their own citizens. Accusations of treason operate politically as an instrument for recasting citizens as enemy agents. The primary obligation to defend the nation is linked to a mindset which gives government the right to redefine the citizens’ identity.
