On The Evolution Of Technology And International Humanitarian Law

Science and technology reflect mankind's ability of inquiring and using of natural and social laws. Since modern times, science and technology have made all-round and quite great progress and push forward the development of all aspects of the whole society in an unprecedented way. While meeting the military demands, the high-tech weaponries bring about catastrophes to mankind, thus draw the attention of the public and the International Humanitarian Law which focused on the conduct of hostilities and the protection of the victims of war comes into being. To make a thorough research on the relation between the development of science and technology and the International Humanitarian law is of great importance for us to establish a scientific development strategy of the high-tech weaponries and to actively perform legal operations in military struggle. By analyzing the influences of the rapid development of science & technology on the means and method of combat at the age of edged weapons, the age of gunpowder, the age of machine and the age of information, this paper investigated the impetuses and process of the formation and perfection of the International Humanitarian Law and shed light on the characteristics and general rules of the interactive development of science & technology and the International Humanitarian Law. Nowadays, the continual development of military technologies and the appearance of local wars under information conditions put forward a new challenge to the International Humanitarian Law; however, they can also be an incentive to legislation and an opportunity to the development of the law. Moreover, the renewal of the International Humanitarian Law proposes new guidelines and juristic demands for the development of military technology and the creation of weapon.