The article analyzes the current scientific positions of experts in the field of international law regarding the effectiveness of the norms of international humanitarian law during an armed conflict.
The article deals with the issues of legal (lawful) and illegal (criminal) behavior in general and marginal behavior in particular. It is proved that the analysis of only one aspect of legal behavior (criminal) did not allow to fully consider all its sides, as well as to determine the main ways to combat offenses. Initially, lawful conduct was only the antithesis of illegal acts and could not reveal all its significance for society. Only in the 80s, the question of lawful behavior began to be studied more deeply.