just war theory

stance of early christians

• were pacifists

• often willing to die (martyred) for their faith rather than committing acts of violence

christianity and the roman empire

• in 313 AD christianity became the official religion of the roman empire, which was NOT pacifist at all

• when christianity became official religion of R.I, pressure mounted on it to form a theology which would not conflict with roman territorial ambitions

just war theory and st augustine

• instrumental in formulating just war theory in the 5th century

• argued that JC’s teachings on non-violence applied only to individuals- who should indeed follow them and not immediately report to violence

• romans 13:4 seems to suggest that the ruling authorities have the right to use the ‘sword’ to carry out ‘god’s wrath on the wrongdoer’. so, augustine concluded that the state can be justified, if against wrongdoers

just war theory

• christian theory about the conditions required for a war being morally acceptable

• Augustine and Aquinas developed the Just war theory

Augustine and just war theory

• divided his theory into two main parts: jus ad bellum- just reasons for going to war, and jus in bello- just practice while at war

criteria for jus ad bellum (7)

• just cause

• last resort

• legitimate authority

• right intention

• reasonable chance of victory

• proportionality

• comparative justice

just cause

• the purpose of a war must be just. It cannot be for the purposes of destroying a people, or gaining land/resources.

• probs most important criterion

• utilitarians would argue that a pre-emptive strike deters aggressors and therefore secures utility, but a pre-emptive strike is based on conjecture. posturing and the build-up of arms do not necessarily constitute aggression: a man carrying a weapon is not the same as a man using a weapon.

last resort

• all other non-violent means of addressing the issue must have been attempted before war can be justified.

• its important to resolve the sitch through all means possible before war e.g. through diplomacy

• one of the probs with the allied invasion of Iraq in 2003 was that not every alternative means had been explored before the us-led forces invaded.

legitimate authority

• legitimate authority must start the war – one which has the duty of upholding the common good. In the past this would be a religious authority like the Pope. Today it could be the united nations.

• in the case of iraq, the usa and uk argued that their alliance had legitimate authority to invade based in un resolutions and that, as the governments of each country had been democratically elected, they could legitimately argue that they had the authority to take their countries to war. however, this claim of legitimate authority has been highly controversial

right intention

• the only right intention is to seek the good and to overcome evil

• If the accusation that the uk and usa invaded iraq purely to safeguard iraqi oil would, were it true, identify a wrong intention and would eliminate any just cause for the war

reasonable chance of victory

• If a war is likely to fail in achieving its good purpose, then it is a pointless harm which should not be risked.

comparative justice

• catholic bishops of US decided that jus ad bellum should have another criteria in their statement The Promise of Peace in 1983

• the interests of both sides must be taken into consideration

• wars are rarely just because they are usually one-sided. govts rarely think of their enemies when waging war

jus in bello

• refers to the conditions required for just conduct in war

• the force used during war must not be greater than is required

• only killing or capturing active participants

• the modern world has seen a number of attempts to implement the ideal of a just and fairly fought war, particularly in international agreements

egs of modern approaches to jus in bello

• hague conventions → a set of agreements designed to regulate military conduct, banning cruel weapons such as ‘bullets which expand or flatten easily in the human body’

• geneva conventions → aim to protect prisoners of war, outlawing torture and other cruel forms of treatment

jus post bello

• refers to the restoration of peace and justice after the war

• could be brought about by making sure that the citizens of the defeated country have access to clean water, food and electricity, and are allowed to vote for a new govt and enjoy a free press, something known as Rights Vindication.

principles of jus post bellum

• proportionality

• discrimination

• punishment

• compensation

discrimination (JPB)

• discrimination is also necessary when it comes to identifying those who prosecuted the war in the first place on the defeated side

• ordinary citizens should not be punished for the crimes of their own govt

punishment (JPB)

• if the losing nation have committed acts that violate basic human rights (e.g. genocide, rape), then those who were responsible should be held accountable

• nuremberg trials are one eg of this principle in operation

compensation (JPB)

• should be paid by the losers to the victors but this burden should not necessarily fall on the general population (who may not all have participated in the violence or the war itself)