Humanitarian Law and Internal Military Culture: A Sociological Study on the Implementation of International Norms
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31004/joecy.v6i1.8742Keywords:
Humanitarian Law, International Norms, Military Culture, Sociological StudyAbstract
This study examines the implementation of international humanitarian norms within internal military culture from a sociological perspective. While international humanitarian law (IHL) sets clear legal standards, their practical adoption depends on organizational culture, leadership, and institutional practices. Using qualitative methods, including interviews, document analysis, and observation within selected military units, this research identifies the challenges, gaps, and facilitating factors in internalizing international norms. The findings highlight the critical role of institutional culture, training, and socialization in bridging the gap between formal law and everyday military practice. Recommendations are provided for enhancing compliance and fostering a culture that supports humanitarian principles.
References
Bogdan, R. C., & Biklen, S. K. (2007). Qualitative research for education: An introduction to theories and methods (5th ed.). Pearson.
Department of Defense. (2021). Military legal handbook: Compliance with international humanitarian law.
Ehrlich, E. (2002). Fundamental principles of the sociology of law. Transaction Publishers.
Henckaerts, J. M., & Doswald-Beck, L. (2005). Customary international humanitarian law (Vol. I). Cambridge University Press.
Huntington, S. P. (1957). The soldier and the state: The theory and politics of civil-military relations. Harvard University Press.
ICRC. (2020). Training and compliance in international humanitarian law.
Interview conducted on 12 January 2026 [anonymized for confidentiality].
Kaldor, M. (2012). New and old wars: Organized violence in a global era (3rd ed.). Stanford University Press.
Spradley, J. P. (2016). Participant observation. Waveland Press.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Arief Fahmi Lubis
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
