Human Rights and Personal Self-Defense in International Law – eBook PDF

“I know of no other publication that has studied in comparable depth and level of detail the use of lethal force by security forces in exercise of the right to self-defence and defence of others. This renders the ebook not only of academic interest, but also of remarkable practical relevance.” – Professor Dr. Wolff Heintschel von Heinegg, Chair of International Law, Europe-University Viadrina

“This ebook deals with a complex, interwoven set of topics usually considered to be distinct – the various guises of personal self-defense in international law – and does so in a coherent, rigorous and original way, with an overarching central argument. It makes a significant contribution to the existing literature, which currently has no other work of comparable rigour and systematic quality. The quality of the underlying research is excellent, and the coverage is comprehensive.” – Marko Milanovic, Associate Professor of Law, The University of Nottingham School of Law“This fascinating book advances the crucial dialogue between municipal and international law, apt for the current age. Whilst recognising the demands of international law to reasonably curb the self-defence of police, it advocates the recognition of self-defence and resistance against intolerable state conduct. By throwing light on the common needs for limitations and proportionality, Hessbruegge challenges us all to delineate the boundaries of self-defence in a principled, yet pragmatic way.” – The Hon. Michael Kirby AC CMG (Past Justice of the High Court of Australia, Formerly Chair of the UN Commission of Inquiry on North Korea)

“This ebook is both academically rigorous and an engaging read, covering an impressive range of cases. These include the Moscow theatre siege (Finogenov) and the shooting of Jean-Charles de Menezes. There are also fascinating perspectives from the history of religious and philosophical thought, such as the Buddhist tale of the ‘Compassionate Captain who kills a prospective mass murderer in order both to spare the felon from the bad karma he will incur and to save his crew from committing the sin of killing with anger in their thoughts.” – Adrian Lower, District Judge, Law Society Gazette