Violence, conflict, and war challenge everyday understandings about the 'nature' of children and boundaries of childhood. In the disruption and destruction of the lives of children, their families and communities, childhood itself transforms and takes shape. Children, like others, are both subject to the consequences of war and actively involved in many aspects of conflict. They are and have been fighters, victims, refugees, peace-builders and reasons both to enter into and to end wars. Children and Armed Conflict explores the multi-faceted ways in which children have encountered armed conflict, illuminating their varied historical and contemporary roles. This book moves beyond the child simply as either 'victim' or 'soldier' by examining children's experiences of armed conflict in their broader historical, sociological, anthropological, literary, cultural, psychological, and public policy complexities. -- Back cover.