This thesis makes the case for eliminating the distinction between types of armed conflict under international humanitarian law (IHL). Currently, IHL makes the distinction between international and non-international armed conflicts. International armed conflicts are regulated by more treaties than their non-international counterparts. Furthermore, the regulation of international armed conflicts is also considerably more comprehensive than that offered for participants in and victims of non-international armed conflicts. This bifurcation of the law was logical at the time the Geneva Conventions of 1949 were drafted and adopted, as the majority of armed conflicts prior to that point had been international in character. However, in the years following the adoption of the Conventions, there has been a proliferation of non-international armed conflicts, which presents challenges to a body of law that has few tools to adequately address such occurrences. The adoption of the Additional Protocols in 1977 went some way to addressing the legal lacunae that existed, but significant gaps still remain. Mindful this history, this thesis tracks the growth and evolution of the laws of armed conflict in the modern era, since the first document of the laws of war produced for the American Civil War. In doing so, this thesis demonstrates how the law of armed conflict has become increasingly harmonised in its application, with more rules of IHL being generally applicable in all instances of armed conflict, regardless of characterisation. This thesis then makes the argument that the time has come for the final step to be taken, the elimination of the distinction between types of armed conflict, and the complete harmonisation of the laws of war. Focusing specifically on the issue of combatants and POWs in armed conflicts, this thesis draws on considerable legal precedent, legal theory, and policy arguments to make the case that it is time for the law relating to the regulation of armed conflicts to be more uniformly applied.

Chapter 1. Introduction- analysis of the conscription referendum of 1916..... Chapter 2. Compulsory Military Training in peace-time. Chapter 3. Towards compulsion in war-time. Chapter 4. The campaign in Victoria. Chapter 5. The vote in Victoria. Chapter 6. Conclusions.

Thesis (LL. M.)--University of Toronto, 2005. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 90-95).

Thesis (M.S. )--Air Force Institute of Technology, 2008. / "December 2008." Vita. Includes bibliographical references (p. 97-103). Also available via the Internet.

Thesis (M.A.)--Arizona State University, 2000. / Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (p. 135-141). Also available via the Internet.

Thesis (M.S. in Management)--Naval Postgraduate School, December 1990. / Thesis Advisor(s): Haga, William J. Second Reader: McCaffrey, Martin J. "December 1990." Description based on title screen as viewed on March 30, 2010. DTIC Identifier(s): Quality Control, Management Planning And Control, Military Procurement, Quality, Management, Automation, TQM(Total Quality Management), Quality Management, TQM, Total Quality Management, Theses. Author(s) subject terms: Procurement Quality, Total Quality Management. Includes bibliographical references (p. 44-45). Also available in print.

Thesis (M.B.A)--Naval Postgraduate School, March 2005. / Thesis Advisor(s): Mark J. Eitelberg. Includes bibliographical references (p. 91-92). Also available online.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison, 1962. / Typescript. Vita. eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references.

Mode of access: Internet via World Wide Web. Available at http://hdl.handle.net/1947/9667. / "September 2008" Title from PDF cover (viewed on 25 September, 2009) Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.S. in Management)--Naval Postgraduate School, June 1990. / Thesis Advisor(s): Trietsch, Dan. Second Reader: McGonigal, Richard A. "June 1990." Description based on title screen as viewed on October 20, 2009. DTIC Identifier(s): Resource Management, Military Forces (Foreign), Military Force Levels, Balance Of Power, North Korea, South Korea, Military Budgets, Government (Foreign), Theses. Author(s) subject terms: Korea, Inventory, Budget Constraint, War Fighting Capability. Includes bibliographical references (p. 47-48). Also available online.