This document is one of four reports produced as part of a research project the ICRC

asked us to carry out with a view to examining two questions. Firstly,what determines
the behaviour of combatants in wartime and, more specifically, what makes them
respect or violate international humanitarian law? Secondly, are the ICRC’s strategies
for inducing combatants to respect the law appropriate and can they actually influence
behaviour, and not just knowledge or attitudes?
The project was carried out with the assistance of the Faculty of Psychology and
Educational Sciences of the University of Geneva using data gathered from thousands
of combatants and civilians during the ICRC People on War study launched in 1999.
This information was supplemented by interviews with hundreds of other combatants
– both former ones and active ones – in several countries at war.
The examples of violations cited in this document are in no way intended to single out
particular countries or warring factions for criticism. Their only purpose is to illustrate
types of behaviour that were prevalent in past wars and are still common today.
This research would not have been possible without the help of many ICRC staff
members, both in Geneva and in the field, to whom we extend our sincerest thanks.
We are also deeply grateful to all the people from outside the organization who provided
us with their stimulating opinions and points of view, in particular the professors
Willem Doise and Gabriel Mugny and their colleagues at the Faculty of Psychology
and Educational Sciences of the University of Geneva, Reto Hadorn, sociologist at
SIDOS (Swiss Information Service and Data Archive for the Social Sciences), Jean-
Henry Francfort, communications specialist, Christian-Nils Robert, professor of
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Foreword
THEROOTSOFBEHAVIOURINWAR