Just And Unjust Wars: A Moral Argument With Historical Illustrations

Michael Walzer

Basic Books, 2006 - History - 361 pages

From the Athenian attack on Melos to the My Lai Massacre, from the wars in the Balkans through the first war in Iraq, Michael Walzer examines the moral issues surrounding military theory, war crimes, and the spoils of war. He studies a variety of conflicts over the course of history, as well as the testimony of those who have been most directly involved--participants, decision makers, and victims. In his introduction to this new edition, Walzer specifically addresses the moral issues surrounding the war in and occupation of Iraq, reminding us once again that "the argument about war and justice is still a political and moral necessity."

What people are saying

Review: Just And Unjust Wars: A Moral Argument With Historical Illustrations

User Review  - James - Goodreads

This isn't an easy book to read, although it isn't quite as dry as the title suggests. I imagine (I hope?) that it is taught in military academies and other places where the morality of war is ...

Review: Just And Unjust Wars: A Moral Argument With Historical Illustrations

User Review - Goodreads

I read this as required reading during my second year of studies at West Point. We read this along with Thucydides' History of the Peloponnesian War. Although it's subtitle is "A Moral Argument with ...

Contents

• Against Realism: 3
• The Realist Argument: 4
• Strategy and Morality: 13
• Historical Relativism: 16
• The Crime of War: 21
• The Logic of War: 22
• The Limit of Consent: 25
• The Tyranny of War: 29
• The Rules of War: 34
• Two Sorts of Rules: 41
• The War Convention: 44
• THE THEORY OF AGGRESSION: 49
• Law and Order in International Society: 51
• The Rights of Political Communities: 53
• The Legalist Paradigm: 58
• Unavoidable Categories: 63
• The Argument for Appeasement: 67
• Anticipations: 74
• Preventive War and the Balance of Power: 76
• Preemptive Strikes: 80
• Interventions: 86
• SelfDetermination and SelfHelp: 87
• Secession: 91
• Civil War: 96
• Humanitarian Intervention: 101
• Wars Ends and the Importance of Winning: 109
• Unconditional Surrender: 111
• Justice in Settlements: 117
• THE WAR CONVENTION: 125
• Wars Means and the Importance of Fighting Well: 127
• Utility and Proportionality: 129
• Human Rights: 133
• Noncombatant Immunity and Military Necessity: 138
• The Nature of Necessity 1: 144
• Double Effect: 151
• War Against Civilians Sieges and Blockades: 160
• Coercion and Responsibility: 161
• The Right to Leave: 165
• Taking Aim and the Doctrine of Double Effect: 170
• Guerrilla War: 176
• The Rights of Guerrilla Fighters: 179
• The Rights of Civilian Supporters: 186
• Terrorism: 197
• Violence and Liberation: 204
• Reprisals: 207
• The Problem of Peacetime Reprisals: 216
• DILEMMAS OF WAR: 223
• Winning and Fighting Well: 225
• The Sliding Scale and the Argument from Extremity: 228
• Aggression and Neutrality: 233
• The Right to Be Neutral: 234
• The Nature of Necessity 2: 239
• The Sliding Scale: 242
• Supreme Emergency: 251
• Overriding the Rules of War: 255
• The Limits of Calculation: 263
• Nuclear Deterrence: 269
• Limited Nuclear War: 274
• THE QUESTION OF RESPONSIBILITY: 285
• The Crime of Aggression Political Leaders and Citizens: 287
• The World of Officials: 289
• Democratic Responsibilities: 296
• War Crimes Soldiers and Their Officers: 304
• In the Heat of Battle: 306
• Superior Orders: 309
• Command Responsibility: 316
• The Nature of Necessity 4: 323
• Conclusion: 325
• Nonviolence and the Theory of War: 329
• Notes: 337
• Index: 355

About the author

Michael Walzer is Professor of Social Science at the Institute for Advanced Study, Princeton, New Jersey, and the author of many widely heralded books, including Spheres of Justice, Exodus and Revolution, and The Company of Critics, all available from Basic Books. He lives in Princeton, New Jersey.

Bibliographic information

• Title: Just And Unjust Wars: A Moral Argument With Historical Illustrations; Basic Books
• Author: Michael Walzer
• Edition: 4, revised
• Publisher: Basic Books, 2006
• ISBN: 0465037070, 9780465037070
• Length: 361 pages
• Subjects: History / Military / General; Political Science / History & Theory; Political Science / Security (National & International)