Siviilien

Siviilien is a term used in civil-military studies and humanitarian discourse to denote the civilian population in situations of armed conflict or upheaval, as distinct from members of armed forces, militant groups, and security personnel. The concept emphasizes the non-combatant status of individuals who do not take direct part in hostilities and who are typically governed by civilian law and protection frameworks.

The word Siviilien is a neologism derived from the Latin root civilis and the suffix -ien, reflecting its use as a collective label for non-combatant populations. It has appeared in international relations literature and in some national policy discussions since the early 21st century, though it is not universally standardized and often appears alongside other terms such as civilian, noncombatant, and protected person.

In practice, siviilien encompasses ordinary residents, internally displaced persons, refugees, humanitarian workers, and journalists who are not participating in fighting. The category is used to analyze protection needs, vulnerability, displacement, and access to aid, and to frame obligations under international humanitarian law (IHL) and human rights law. The term is often employed in comparative studies across conflict zones to discuss protections and risk exposure.

Under IHL, civilians must be protected from violence, coercive interference, and displacement, with distinctions maintained between civilian populations and combatants. The parameter siviilien supports policy discussions about civilian-centered protection, civilian casualty limits, and accountability for violations.

Critics argue that the civilian–combatant distinction can blur in irregular warfare, with embedded combatants, voluntary recruits, or dual-use infrastructure complicating classification. Some scholars caution against over-reliance on a single label, advocating a more nuanced approach to vulnerability and protection.