Lawfare

Summary

In this book, author Orde Kittrie draws on his experiences as a lawfare practitioner, US State Department attorney, and international law scholar in analyzing the theory and practice of lawfare. Kittrie explains how factors including the increased reach of international laws and tribunals and the rise of economic globalization and information technology have fueled lawfare's increasing power and prevalence. The book includes case studies of recent offensive and defensive lawfare by the United States, China, all sides of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and several non-governmental organizations and individuals. Kittrie asserts that much of the United States' most effective and creative lawfare today is being waged by private sector or other non-governmental attorneys. He analyzes why this is the case, and describes how such attorneys' expertise and experience can contribute even more to US national security. Kittrie also explains that lawfare, deployed more systematically and adeptly by the US government, could likely reduce US and foreign casualties, and save US taxpayer dollars, by supplementing or replacing the use of armed force as a tool for achieving some significant US national security objectives. Understanding this alternative to armed force has never been more important.