1. Introduction; Part I. Concept, History and Basics: 2. Elements of military necessity; 3. Military necessity and a historical outset; 4. Assessing military necessity through a military margin of appreciation; 5. Assessing necessity and criminal responsibility; 6. Military necessity and humanitarian considerations; Part II. Distinction as Limitation Upon Military Necessity in the Law of Armed Conflict: 7. The principle of distinction: also a limitation upon military necessity; 8. Military objects; 9. Combatants as lawful targets; 10. Military necessity and the notion of 'lawful combatancy'; 11. Who are civilians and when do they lose their protection?; Part III. Effectuating Distinction – Enforcing an Ultimate Balance Between Necessities of War and Considerations of Humanity: 12. Protection of the civilian population and perceptions of military necessity; 13. Military necessity and proportionality; 14. Military necessity and the scope and nature of military advantage; 15. The commanders ultimate 'margins': assessing excessiveness and feasibility; Part IV. The Exceptive Face of Military Necessity: 16. Destruction and seizure of property when military necessity requires; 17. Military necessity and rules on special protection; Part V: Conclusions: 18. Conclusions – limitations to the commander's assessment of military necessity; Bibliography; Index.

'Johansen's contribution is an important one that adds to the repudiation of the discredited, but stubbornly irrepressible, concept of kriegsraison geht vor kriegsmanier-the assertion that 'necessity knows no law.'' Beth Van Schaack, American Journal of International Law