Introduction and History of Rules of Engagement
This section provides an overall introduction to the book, explaining the methodology of studying rules of engagement in the context of (international) law. The book adopts the perspective of military and law enforcement personnel on the actual application of the use of force in military operations and in law enforcement. On these bases, the focus is principally directed at the rules on the use of force issued to such personnel in order to carry out their tasks, while their analyses and interpretations were directed at those rules themselves as the principal source of authorizations and restrictions on the use of force in the conduct of their operations. Furthermore, the chapter provides a historical overview of how rules of engagement have developed from ancient times to the present, with a particular focus on how they have been affected by the conflicts of the twentieth century onwards.