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Transfer of Agency in Warfare: Autonomous Weapon Systems and the Means/Method Divide under IHL

Jönsson, Oskar LU (2024) JURM02 20242
Department of Law
Faculty of Law
Abstract
This thesis examines the relationship between autonomous weapon systems and the legal framework governing the choice of means and methods of war-fare in armed conflict. It examines autonomous weapon systems within the context of international humanitarian law, with a particular focus on the con-duct of hostilities. The research highlights the distinction between means of warfare – referring to the weapons used – and methods of warfare, which concern the way in which these are employed.
Through an analysis of the fundamental principles of international humanitari-an law, the thesis argues that autonomous weapon systems challenge tradi-tional interpretations of these concepts. It explores the potential for autono-mous systems to make... (More)
This thesis examines the relationship between autonomous weapon systems and the legal framework governing the choice of means and methods of war-fare in armed conflict. It examines autonomous weapon systems within the context of international humanitarian law, with a particular focus on the con-duct of hostilities. The research highlights the distinction between means of warfare – referring to the weapons used – and methods of warfare, which concern the way in which these are employed.
Through an analysis of the fundamental principles of international humanitari-an law, the thesis argues that autonomous weapon systems challenge tradi-tional interpretations of these concepts. It explores the potential for autono-mous systems to make independent decisions regarding the selection of both means and methods. By drawing parallels to drone warfare, the thesis illus-trates how autonomous weapon systems could redefine the targeting process, positioning themselves not just as means of warfare but also as the selector of the method employed. (Less)
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author
Jönsson, Oskar LU
supervisor
organization
course
JURM02 20242
year
type
H3 - Professional qualifications (4 Years - )
subject
keywords
International Humanitarian Law, Autonomous Weapon Systems, Means and Methods of Warfare
language
English
id
9180405
date added to LUP
2025-02-02 14:18:32
date last changed
2025-02-02 14:18:32
@misc{9180405,
  abstract     = {{This thesis examines the relationship between autonomous weapon systems and the legal framework governing the choice of means and methods of war-fare in armed conflict. It examines autonomous weapon systems within the context of international humanitarian law, with a particular focus on the con-duct of hostilities. The research highlights the distinction between means of warfare – referring to the weapons used – and methods of warfare, which concern the way in which these are employed.
Through an analysis of the fundamental principles of international humanitari-an law, the thesis argues that autonomous weapon systems challenge tradi-tional interpretations of these concepts. It explores the potential for autono-mous systems to make independent decisions regarding the selection of both means and methods. By drawing parallels to drone warfare, the thesis illus-trates how autonomous weapon systems could redefine the targeting process, positioning themselves not just as means of warfare but also as the selector of the method employed.}},
  author       = {{Jönsson, Oskar}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Transfer of Agency in Warfare: Autonomous Weapon Systems and the Means/Method Divide under IHL}},
  year         = {{2024}},
}