ABSTRACT
When ethnic warfare breaks out in divided societies, it tends to be a mix of conventional war, guerilla war, terrorism, banditry, and organized crime. Martin van Creveld put it thus: “In the future war will not be waged by armies but by . . . terrorists, guerillas, bandits, and robbers” (1991: 197). Though exaggerating, he pointed to an important change in warfare. Mary Kaldor (2001: chapter 1) refers to “new wars” that blur the distinction between violence between states (the original meaning of war), organized crime for private economic gain, and large-scale violation of human rights when the state and armed groups turn violently on civilians. Unless restrained, regular armies in counterinsurgency become like their adversaries in the mode of fighting, and civilians become the principal casualties and victims.
