Just war theory

what is the just war theory?

Just war theory is a theory which sets out criteria by which a war can be measured, to ascertain whether or not it is just/justified

who developed the just war theory and then later who continued it?

First developed by St Augustine, and later more fully developed by St Thomas Aquinas

What did Just War theory form in the modern day?

It formed the basis for modern international law about war and a ‘just war’ today is one that meets internationally-accepted criteria (laid out in the Geneva conventions 1949)

What are the three sets of criteria within Modern Just War theory

Jus ad bellum

Jus in bello

Jus post bellum

what does ‘jus ad bellum’ mean

Just conditions for going to war

what does ‘jus in bello’ mean

just conduct in war

what does ‘jus post bellum’ mean

just conduct after war

What are the Discrimination terms for ‘Jus in bello’ (just conduct in war)

Combatants must distinguish between civilians + combatants and attacks must be directed only at military targets

What are the ‘proportionality’ for ‘Jus in bello’ (just conduct in war)

The harm caused to civilians must not be excessive in relation to the military advantage gain

What are the ‘Military necessity’ terms for ‘Jus in bello’ (just conduct in war)

Actions taken during Warfare should be necessary for achieving legitimate military objectives

What are the ‘Fair treatment of prisoners of war’ terms for ‘Jus in bello’ (just conduct in war)

Captured combatants must be treated humanely and according to international law

give me some examples of unjust war

• all terrorist attacks: not authorised by a legitimate authority and civilians are harmed

• (Arguably) Britian’s invasion of Iraq in 2003 there was no just cause, as there was no evidence of weapons of mass destruction (WMDs)

(Arguably) Examples of just war:

• WW2: Just cause, legitimate authority etc.

• Kosovo war, 1999 - just cause(the aim was to stop the ethnic cleansing of the Albanians by the Serbian force)

What can be argued about the Kosovo war?

Widely considered as morally right as it was authorised by NATO but not by the UN security council

What do some people argue about warfare

Some argue warfare has changed because of weapon development so it is impossible for war to be justified today

Who takes that view?

Pope Francis takes this view in his encyclical Fratelli Tutti

What did Pope Francis say in his encyclical Fratelli Tutti

“It is very difficult nowadays to invoke the rational criteria elaborated in earlier centuries to speak of the possibility of a ‘Just War! Never again War’

What are the Just War theory terms

1. Proper authority

2. Just

3. Establish Good

4. Reasonable Chance of Success

5. Last Resort

6. Sufficient force

7. Civilians

Proper authority

war should be declared by a proper authority e.g. a government or king

just

the war must be started for a good reason - e.g. self-defence, not because of greed, etc...

establish good

the war must be fought to establish good, or fight evil

reasonable chance of success

it should be possible to win the war

last resort

it must be a last resort, when everything else has been tried, e.g. diplomacy

sufficient force

the amount of force used must be only enough to succeed - no more

civilians

no civilians should be involved and no deliberate unnecessary cruelty