ipl-logo

Walzer's Theory Of Just War

1871 Words8 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Principles of just war theory

The doctrine of just war is one of the oldest debated ideas of morality in history. The tradition is, at its core, a set of guidelines governing the ethics of war, and can be thought of as a moral compass that entities ought to adhere to while considering the act of war and during the course of war. The concept of just war lies between two diametrically opposite notions regarding validity of war - realism, which postulates that there is no place for morality in war and international affairs, and pacifism, whose adherents believe that the application of morality is universal and does not warrant any form of physical violence.

The origins of the concept can be easily thought to have coincided with the inception of warfare.
Mentions of a framework …show more content…

Philosophers like Walzer generally categorize the just war tradition in two frameworks – the justice of war (jus ad bellum), and conduct during the war (jus in bello). Recent debates have also brought forth the issue of conduct post war (jus post bellum). Frequently cited core principles within jus ad bellum are a just cause for war, it being used as a last resort, the declaration of war by a legitimate authority, having a reasonable chance of success, and proportionality of the means with the end. Similar principles for jus in bello are rejection of prohibited weapons, minimal con-combatant casualties, and fair treatment to …show more content…

This can be particularly attributed to the fact that the thirty years since Walzer’s book was published have seen wars take unconventional forms. We now have conflicts between regular armies of states and ‘rogue forces’, or terrorist organizations not under the control of any state. These wars do not fall under the purview of conventional wars, for which the traditional theory has been developed. Many scholars have also pointed out problems with certain aspects of the theory which are largely independent of the modifications in the practice of war. These revisionist points of view have drastically undermined Walzer’s defence of the classic principles and have led to vigorous debates regarding their implications

Show More
Related
1458 Words | 6 Pages

War is a very different creature when looked at from the standpoint of a soldier. Often this isn’t realized by soldiers entering battle. Paul Bäumer and Lt. Hans von Witzland were among these soldiers who had traveled to war only to find it wasn’t what propaganda and the Führer had made it out to be. In this state of disarray the laws of war were lost and replaced with savagery. In order to survive soldiers had to put away these ideas of fair fighting and fair treatment of the enemy.

Read More
321 Words | 2 Pages

In Howard Zinn’s speech, “The Myth of a Good War” (or “Three Holy Wars”), he talks about the misleading air surround three very brutal and devastating wars that shaped our country. As his title implies, he talks about the mythical concept of a “good” war – as designed by our government. Peter Stearns’ article, “Why Study History?” , describes the value placed in the study of history. Stearns points out the relevance of history in relation to our identity, both individually and as a whole nation.

Read More
1047 Words | 5 Pages

The art of war passed through a fundamental transformation, especially in the eighteenth and nineteenth-centuries. Changes involved all aspects of warfare, strategy, operations, logistics and tactics. That period saw unprecedented economic, social, and political change. Therefore, the manner in which a given society wages war is the typical product of the whole societal, political, and economic system for that society. While the economic, societal and politic order that characterized the period between the religion wars and the French revolution had limited warfare; mass politics, nationalism and the industrial revolution which marked the era of the French revolution and the U.S. Civil War remade warfare from its strategic, operational, logistic

Read More
174 Words | 1 Pages

In the article, “Crusading Warfare and its Adaptation to Eastern Conditions in the Twelfth Century”. John France argues that, in the holy land, the Europeans modified their style of warfare considerably. Due to our overestimation of the role of cavalry, and a failure to appreciate how it was used in Europe, we have misunderstood much about warfare in Europe. (France, 49) France examines how cavalry, infantry and fortifications were used in the Western, Middle Eastern and Frankish styles of warfare, and why it was necessary to modify their approaches regarding battle.

Read More
1124 Words | 5 Pages

Bertrand Russell, a British author, mathematician, and philosopher said this quote. This quote is saying war doesn’t solve anything except for proving who can survive. “War does not determine who is right - only who is

Read More
637 Words | 3 Pages

War is what denies an absolute truth in a war story. “In war you lose your sense of definite, hence your sense of truth itself, and, therefore, it’s safe to say that in a true war story nothing is absolutely true(p82)”. War many-sided. In war, one can never say anything definitely because the perception

Read More
1210 Words | 5 Pages

Whether it be the involvement of the U.S. in the Vietnam War or the decision to drop the nuclear bombs on the Japanese islands of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, wherever conflict arises, controversy is not far behind. It is easy to view military actions as great triumphs, but one must ask if they adhere to our values as human beings. General William T. Sherman’s destruction of the South in his march to the sea was not only unnecessary in terms of the outcome of the war, but the extent of its brutality was inhumane and negatively impacted the cause for peace between the North and the South during and after the war. Sherman’s obliteration of the South in his march to the sea was uncalled for and against the very purpose of the war.

Read More
1441 Words | 6 Pages

Can an antiquated lens provide an adequate examination and understanding of modern warfare? The theories of Carl von Clausewitz retain remarkable contemporary merit and relevance in explaining the critical elements affecting warfare in the modern era. Carl von Clausewitz’s theories of war endeavor to be comprehendible, comprehensive, and strategic. Clausewitz contends that the conduct of war itself is without doubt very difficult. But the difficulty is not that erudition and great genius are necessary to understand the basic principles of warfare.1 Clausewitz 's 1812 essay, the Principles of War, offers military commanders, with little campaign experience, a comprehendible, comprehensive, and strategic model for attaining victory in battle.

Read More
1428 Words | 6 Pages

When discussing the differences between the two wars, he lets the reader know the differences early on, which helps the reader understand precisely what the wars are and are not (Haass, 7). When Haass dissects a war of choice, he masterfully explains the headspaces that many actors were in. His explanation of the legal and international ramifications and their effects on foreign policy are also done with great skill, specifically in sections explaining how the United Nations and the United States population react and can influence wars of choice. However, Haass fails to explain how a war of choice occurs and why they are wrong.

Read More
483 Words | 2 Pages

After the Japanese Army attacked Pearl Harbor on December 8, 1941, and many Americans were killed, Franklin D. Roosevelt asked for a Declaration of War against the state of Japan. As a result of a lack of resources and an attempt to further its empire, Japan also declared war. Due to it covering all 6 Just Cause Theories, the US's case for starting a war was stronger. The United States of America justifies declaring war by the Just War Theories.

Read More
811 Words | 4 Pages

New technology and tactics transformed warfare. It has changed due to the world's growing connectives, including alliances, trade, and other circumstances. However, those who fall victim, remain the same because world leaders don’t involve themselves with the warfare, they engage by using minimal interaction and create more chaos throughout history. Exhibited from mustard gas during trench warfare during WWI, then during WWII, the US dropping the atomic bomb on Hiroshima, and the Vietnam War, a proxy war, the evolution of warfare reflects opposing sides wanting to distance themselves and their enemies.

Read More
967 Words | 4 Pages

The Just War Theory states that it is a military action that is justified as being permissible for legal or moral reasons. So if the Government chooses war as the best action to follow, they are correct because it is the morally right thing to do. The Just War Theory coincides with Utilitarianism when deciding if war is good or bad. Overall, war is good because there has been technological advances either during or after the times of war. With the advances there has been the building of roads, and linking computers across country for faster communication.

Read More
133 Words | 1 Pages

Ancient Greece was one of the most developed countries in its time. Its many legacies still influence culture in modern society. The Olympic Games is the biggest sporting event and it is every athletes dream to participate in them. They continue to unite countries all over the world in peace for sixteen days of pure love of sports. The legacy of ancient Greek drama still plays a huge role in modern society with many ancient Greek plays still being performed to this day.

Read More
1469 Words | 6 Pages

And although there may be times where the costs of war outweigh the benefits, If that was an act of self-defense, it can be justified. However in most cases, many of these points for war cannot be verified on the spot, together with untold reasons of those wars, end up causing wars that would not have occurred if not for certain misunderstandings. However, there are many real threats that have been and will need to be eliminated regardless of the lives sacrificed. Therefore, I think that war is justifiable with these three requirements, it should be brought forth because of a just cause, done for the greater good, and furthermore when it is an act of

Read More
1697 Words | 7 Pages

Most recently many post-cold war conflicts have exhibited different characters of warfare from the Clausewitzian concept like the Liberian civil war from 1989; the conflict became the sight of bloodshed between different factions and tribes. The characteristic of ’inter-state’ conflict became a new ’intra-state’ conflict. The Liberian conflict exhibited a characteristics that new and flexible methods such as the so called ‘shadow economies’ were developed in boundary regions, involving the creation of a mercantile system where the conflict parties could haul out natural resource for financial support (Duffield, 2001:

Read More

More about Walzer's Theory Of Just War

Related Topics

Open Document