Introduction

Summary

The General Introduction presents the research question that underlies the book and the approach used to answer it. It starts by expounding the traditional historical narrative on the prohibition of the use of force and show how it appears to be at odds with 'reality' as it stems from primary historical sources. It explains that the purpose of the book is to investigate this discrepancy and understand of origins of the traditional narrative of indifference. It presents the theoretical framework inspired by mnemohistory that will be used to this end, as well as an argumentative roadmap to the book. Built as a step by step ‘deconstruction’ of the narrative of indifference it starts by analysing how nineteenth-century authors dealt with the use of force. It shows that the vast majority of authors, from all theoretical backgrounds, believed force be ring-fenced by law. The second part turns to practice for the purpose of demonstrating that law played a role to justify resort to force. The third part ambitions to explain where the narrative of indifference comes from: why it has emerged and why it still dominates contemporary scholarship.