Just war !

J us t & Unj us t
Wrs
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Philosophy 314
D. Bühler
October 1, 2013

J us t & Unj us t W r s
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The phrase “Just War” is bandied about by
politicians, the media, historians, and church
officials in discussions of the Iraq war. However, we
do not often hear the actual criteria of just war
theory — or a critical evaluation of how it is
applied. We ought to understand the criteria that
have guided both secular and religious debate about
war, keeping in mind that war has meant the death
of hundreds to millions of specific human lives like
our own. Here are criteria for just war, as well as
a view of this concept from a general ethical
perspective, plus activities to apply the criteria to a
current situation, and to challenge our perspectives.

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JUST WAR CRITERIA

BEFORE A WAR:
1. The war must be a LAST RESORT. Every effort at
negotiation and arbitration must have been tried.
2. The war must have a JUST CAUSE — to protect the
innocent and to defend us against unjust demands
and/or imminent threats of force.
•

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JUST WAR CRITERIA

3. The war must be waged by a . . .
LEGITIMATE AUTHORITY
4. It must be . . .
FORMALLY DECLARED

.

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JUST WAR CRITERIA
5. It must be fought with PEACEFUL
INTENTIONS. It cannot be waged by a
crusade mentality, self interest, or pride, but
must be for the well-being of all people.
6. There must be a reasonable HOPE OF
SUCCESS. The goals must be achievable
without squandering the life and property of
the people.

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JUST WAR CRITERIA

7. The means used must be

PROPORTIONATE
to the ends sought. War must NEVER
cause unnecessary destruction or
“collateral” damage that outweighs
the final good the war seeks to achieve.

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During the war:
• NONCOMBATANTS must be given
immunity. No harm is to be done to those
who can do no harm (civilians).
• PRISONERS must be treated humanely.
• INTERNATIONAL TREATIES and/or
Conventions must be honored.

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If we made full use of the principles of

Just War, the quality of our moral
deliberation about conflict would
improve. This can help us think
ethically about the tendency of any
society to justify its own violence,
assist us to confront all the various
effects of violence, and encourage us to
creatively seek alternatives.

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Christians (also) critically examine these
criteria in light of the Ethic of Love,
Forgiveness, and the Sanctity of each
human life. Jesus lived a life of love and
taught his followers to use nonviolence in
their struggle for justice. This message
can even transcend mere “just war “
thinking to engage alternatives ideas like
“Just Peace” thinking or Christian
Nonviolence.

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In the past our justifications for war have
sometimes been faulty, e.g.:

• Following the Spanish-American war,
the Philippines were handed over from
Spanish to US control. When Philippine
citizens resisted, the U.S went to war
against them from 1899-1902.

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The rhetoric at the time was that they were
an “uncivilized” people who would benefit
from the hand of the US government and
Christianity--and it would also open up new
economic options. To growing protest at
home, the US army wiped out dozens of
towns. An estimated one-third of the
population was killed. What was once
considered a justifiable war is now seen by
most historians as a bloody war of self
interest. One looks in vain for a war that
wasn’t considered ‘Just’ by the leading public
figures of the day.

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VALUES versus THEORY
Whether or not a war meets Just War Criteria,
violence has drastic consequences for us as
humans, and for society, our earth, and our
future. Use these quotations as discussion
starters for erxploring the call in the Sermon
on the Mount to become peacemakers. (Use
in small group or all together.

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“If we are honest, we find the
temptation to vengeance in our
own hearts. Yet we know that the
first real victim of violence is the
perpetrator. What Gandhi said is
true: ‘An eye for an eye results only
in two blind persons.’”
Mary Evelyn Jegen (see also Matthew 7:1-5)

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“All discussions of “just war” start
with the assumption that war can
be justifiable. This is a
reprehensible assumption. What if
we had discussions of “just
slavery” or “just sexism”?
John Stoner (see also Matthew 5: 38-45)

-

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“Violence can never stop violence because
its very success leads others to imitate it.
Ironically, violence is most dangerous
when it succeeds.”
- Walter Wink (see also Matthew 26:52)

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The followers of Christ have been called
to peace…. And they must not only
have peace but make it. To that end
they renounce all violence and tumult.
In the cause of Christ nothing is to be
gained by such methods.”
- Dietrich Bonhoeffer (see also 1Peter 3:11)

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“You can no more win a war
than you can win an
earthquake.”
- Jeanette Rankin (see also Micah 4:2-4)

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“It all really boils down to this:
that all life is interrelated. We are all
caught in an inescapable network of
mutuality, tied into a single garment of
destiny. Whatever affects one directly,
affects all indirectly.”

- Martin Luther King, Jr.

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Applying the Criteria
War with Iraq: “Was” or is it a Just War?
Compare & Contrast:
WW II
Vietnam Wars
Persian Fulf War
“War on Terror”
“Coming Wars” (S. Hersh)

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Small Group Discussions:
Each group has the task of applying their criteria to
war with Iraq, and deciding whether the war does
or did not meet that standard.
Share the questions below, and ask the group
questions of your own. After 10-15 minutes, have
report your conclusions. Invite the rest of the
group to raise questions to encourage critical
thinking. Conclude with a group reflection on the
main question:

Was or is the Iraq War Just?

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1.War must be a Last Resort: Did we try negotiation
and nonviolent intervention before using violence?
Are there any alternatives we missed?

2. War must have a Just Cause: What is a just cause?
Who has authority to decide? What if both sides
think their cause is just?

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3. War must be waged by a Legitimate Authority:
What role did or should the UN play? How do
citizens give their government authority?
4. War must be Formally Declared: Did the US
Congress declare war? What should the process
be? What are the pros and cons of the US
process? Could it ever be “too” democratic?

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5. It must be fought with Peaceful Intentions:
How could war affect the long-term well-being
of people in Iraq, the US, the world? What might
be our true motivation?
6. There must be reasonable Prospect of Success:
What is the goal? What could be the costs and
for whom? Who decides what success is?
Who pays for it all? In money? In lives?

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5. It must be fought with Peaceful Intentions:
How could war affect the long-term well-being
of people in Iraq, the US, the world? What might
be our true motivation?
6. There must be reasonable Prospect of Success:
What is the goal? What could be the costs and
for whom? Who decides what success is?
Who pays for it all? In money? In lives?

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7. Means must be Proportionate to
Ends: What does Proportionality
mean? Will the goal outweigh the
destruction?
8. Noncombatants must be given
Immunity: Are the lives of civilians
protected? How is this be done?

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9. Prisoners must be treated humanely:
What does this mean? What are their
rights?
10. International Treaties must be
honored: Are we breaking any
international agreements? How could
we be sure? Why honor Agreements?

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11. The defeated are to be shown Mercy: Are we
confident the US public supports the cost of
rebuilding Iraq?
12. Was there a “revenge” motive at work in
this war? If so, it was not “just.”

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Web Sites:
http://www.paxchristiusa.org/

http://www.usccb.org/
http://members.tripod.com/~lutheran_peace/

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Further Reading:
M. Walzer, Arguing about War (2004).

Just war !

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