Moral Constraints on War

Principles and Cases, Third Edition

Edited by Bruno Coppieters; Carl Ceulemans and Nicholas Fotion - Contributions by Ruben Apressyan; Carl Ceulemans; Bruno Coppieters; Nicholas Fotion; Anthony Hartle; Boris Kashnikov; Zafer Kizilkaya; Jelle Leunis; Xu Tian and Guy Van Damme

This third edition of Moral Constraints on War offers a principle by principle presentation of the ethics of war as is found in the age-old tradition of the Just War. Parts one and two trace the evolution of Just War Theory, analyzing the principles of jus ad bellum and jus in bello: the principles that determine the conditions under which it is just to start a war and then conduct military operations. Each chapter provides a historical background of the principle under discussion and an in-depth analysis of its meaning. More so than in the previous editions, there is a special focus on the transcultural nature of the principles. Besides theoretical clarifications, each of the principles is also put to the test with numerous historical and contemporary examples. In Part three, Just War Theory is applied in three specific case studies: the use of the atomic bomb against Japan in World War II, the Korean War (1950-53), and the use of armed drones in the "war on terror." Bringing together an international coterie of philosophers and political scientists, this accessible and practical guide offers both students of military ethics and of international relations rich, up-to-date insights into the pluralistic character of Just War Theory.

Lexington Books

Pages: 282 • Trim: 6¼ x 9¼

978-1-4985-5661-3 • Hardback • January 2020 • $100.00 • (£77.00)

978-1-4985-5663-7 • Paperback • January 2020 • $42.99 • (£33.00)

978-1-4985-5662-0 • eBook • January 2020 • $40.50 • (£31.00)

Subjects: Political Science / International Relations / General, Political Science / Security (National & International)

Moral Constraints on War

Principles and Cases, Third Edition

Hardback

Paperback

eBook

Summary

This third edition of Moral Constraints on War offers a principle by principle presentation of the ethics of war as is found in the age-old tradition of the Just War. Parts one and two trace the evolution of Just War Theory, analyzing the principles of jus ad bellum and jus in bello: the principles that determine the conditions under which it is just to start a war and then conduct military operations. Each chapter provides a historical background of the principle under discussion and an in-depth analysis of its meaning. More so than in the previous editions, there is a special focus on the transcultural nature of the principles. Besides theoretical clarifications, each of the principles is also put to the test with numerous historical and contemporary examples. In Part three, Just War Theory is applied in three specific case studies: the use of the atomic bomb against Japan in World War II, the Korean War (1950-53), and the use of armed drones in the "war on terror." Bringing together an international coterie of philosophers and political scientists, this accessible and practical guide offers both students of military ethics and of international relations rich, up-to-date insights into the pluralistic character of Just War Theory.

Details

Lexington Books

Pages: 282 • Trim: 6¼ x 9¼

978-1-4985-5661-3 • Hardback • January 2020 • $100.00 • (£77.00)

978-1-4985-5663-7 • Paperback • January 2020 • $42.99 • (£33.00)

978-1-4985-5662-0 • eBook • January 2020 • $40.50 • (£31.00)

Subjects: Political Science / International Relations / General, Political Science / Security (National & International)

Author

Bruno Coppieters is professor of political science at Free University of Brussels.

Nicholas Fotion is emeritus professor of philosophy at Emory University.

Carl Ceulemans is professor of ethics and head of the department of behavioral sciences at the Belgian Royal Military Academy.

Table of Contents

Preface

Bruno Coppieters, Carl Ceulemans and Nick Fotion

Introduction

Nick Fotion, Bruno Coppieters, Carl Ceulemans, Ruben Apressyan, Zafer Kizilkaya and Xu Tian

PART I Jus ad Bellum

Chapter 1: Just Cause

Bruno Coppieters, Carl Ceulemans, Zafer Kizilkaya, Anthony Hartle and Xu Tian

Chapter 2: Legitimate Authority

Bruno Coppieters, Carl Ceulemans, Jelle Leunis, Xu Tian and Zafer Kizilkaya

Chapter 3: Right Intentions

Bruno Coppieters, Boris Kashnikov, Zafer Kizilkaya and Xu Tian

Chapter 4: Likelihood of Success

Nick Fotion, Bruno Coppieters, Zafer Kizilkaya and Xu Tian

Chapter 5: Proportionality

Nick Fotion, Zafer Kizilkaya, Xu Tian, Bruno Coppieters

Chapter 6: Last Resort

Bruno Coppieters, Ruben Apressyan, Boris Kashnikov, Zafer Kizilkaya and Xu Tian

PART II Jus in Bello

Chapter 7: Discrimination

Carl Ceulemans, Bruno Coppieters, Anthony Hartle, Zafer Kizilkaya, Jelle Leunis, Xu Tian and Guy Van Damme

Chapter 8: Proportionality

Nick Fotion, Bruno Coppieters, Zafer Kizilkaya, Guy Van Damme and Xu Tian

Chapter 9: The Doctrine of Double Effect

Bruno Coppieters and Nick Fotion

Chapter 10: Are Combatants Moral Equals?

Carl Ceulemans and Nick Fotion

PART III Cases

Chapter 11: Dropping the Atomic Bomb.

Nick Fotion

Chapter12: The Bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki

Bruno Coppieters

Chapter 13:The Korean War, 1950-1953

Nick Fotion

Chapter 14: Drone Warfare

Carl Ceulemans and Jelle Leunis

Chapter 15: Concluding Comments

Nick Fotion, Bruno Coppieters, Carl Ceulemans and Xu Tian

Reviews

“This classic book is deservedly in its third, reinforced, and re-vitalized edition. The message is the same: fight only just wars, with due restraint, aiming throughout for nothing less than safe and lasting peace.”
— Patrick Mileham, International Society for Military Ethics

“War continues to be a feature of the twenty-first century. As much as it jars with human conscience, it cannot be wished away - yet. Moral Constraints on War makes a solid case for putting moral constraints on this brutal activity, as long as it is permitted to exist. This is to be recommended to all those who have to make decisions about life and death.”
— Dmitri Trenin, Carnegie Moscow Center

“This volume is a must-read for those interested in the morality of war. It provides a systematic overview of the just war criteria, thought provoking case studies, and is unique in its combination of various cultural perspectives.”
— Lonneke Peperkamp, Radboud University