This article examines the relationship between international law and World War I from a basic perspective. The first question is whether, and to what degree, international law can or should be regarded as a contributing cause for the outbreak of World War I . Three aspects of international law prior to World War I are discussed: the silent ‘alliance’ between the ius ad bellum and social Darwinism, the lack of individual accountability of the members of the political and military elites under international law, and the role of the law of reprisal as a ‘fire accelerant’ of conflicts. The second focal point lies on central questions of international law during the war. Again, three aspects are addressed: the relationship between international law and new weapons as well as new methods of warfare, legal issues related to long-term occupations and the role of international law with respect to prisoners of war.

中文翻译：

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超越非关系的神话：国际法与第一次世界大战

本文从基本的角度考察了国际法与第一次世界大战之间的关系。第一个问题是，国际法是否可以在何种程度上被视为一战爆发的成因。讨论了第一次世界大战之前国际法的三个方面：战时民主与社会达尔文主义之间的默契“联盟”，国际法下政治和军事精英成员缺乏个人问责制，以及国际法的作用。报复法则是冲突的“助火剂”。第二个重点是战争期间国际法的核心问题。再次从三个方面着手：国际法与新武器之间的关系以及新的战争方法，