Internal armed conflicts : an international legal duty to settle them peacefully?

Abstract

Is there an international legal duty on states to settle their internal armed conflicts peacefully? Traditionally, it has been understood that states were only obliged to settle peacefully disputes with other states. However, in other areas, laws and regulations that once applied to inter-state relations have gradually expanded to include intra-state relations. The question then arises: has a similar extension taken place for the peaceful settlement of internal armed conflicts? This thesis questions whether an international legal duty to settle internal armed conflicts peacefully has emerged or is emerging, as a matter of treaty or customary law. The thesis argues that, at present, international law does not impose a legal obligation on states to settle internal armed conflicts peacefully, nor is such an obligation emerging as a matter of international customary law. However, there is an emerging political recognition and consensus that armed conflicts within states must be resolved peacefully.