This book investigates the legal legitimacy of national liberation movements employing armed force within the framework of international humanitarian law. Heather A. Wilson, an expert in international relations and security policy, evaluates the historical evolution of the laws of armed conflict to determine how they accommodate non-state actors seeking self-determination. The text argues that the traditional state-centric model of international law faces significant challenges when applied to unconventional conflicts, necessitating a re-examination of the rights and obligations of liberation groups.

Legal scholars and political scientists frequently cite this work as a foundational text for understanding the intersection of sovereignty and insurgency. Readers often note the academic density of the prose, which provides a rigorous examination of international legal precedents.