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Two wrongs don’t make a right: Reflections on reciprocity and its impact on the path to peace

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: This article explores the enduring tension between the human impulse for reciprocity and the legal prohibitions against it within international humanitarian law. It argues that reciprocity’s “negative” application in armed conflict – justifying violations because an adversary has committed the same violations – creates destructive cycles of violence that undermine both humanitarian protections and the long-term prospects for peace.

Source: International Review of the Red Cross

DOI: 10.1017/s1816383126101131

Author: Ioanna Voudouri

Institution: International Committee of the Red Cross

Language: English

Topic: International Law and Human Rights

Subfield: Political Science and International Relations

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Peace, justice, and strong institutions

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,550