Introduction: promoting restraint in war

Over the last decade, changes in nature of conflict have generated profound operational challenges for international humanitarian organizations. The number non-international armed conflicts doubled between 2001 and 2016, rising from fewer than 30 to more 70. groups fighting them has also multiplied: emerged decade previous century. Humanitarian organizations struggle assist victims these persuade fighters act with restraint toward those individuals who are not, or no longer, taking part hostilities. New research was required identify sources influence on battlefield inform activities. We present a theoretical framework that identifies norms state non-state groups. argue ought broaden their notions processes socialization uptake mobilize new societal actors cause limiting violence. In our framing empirical articles collection, we structure embeddedness local communities heavily how group internal rules formed reinforced. While hierarchical militaries can largely be influenced by top-down discipline, among decentralized is strongly external group.